Portfolio | Zia Khoshsirat

Hi, I'm Zia Khoshsirat.

I am a User Experience Researcher and Designer. I endeavor to have an in-depth understating of people, their habits, goals, motivations, and (dis)satisfactions.

My expertise is reverse engineering human emotions in their decision-making processes. My anthropological background assists me in analyzing how emotions appear in social life and what these emotions do in choosing and using a product.

My approach to UX Research and Design is to find the issues and use my critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills to resolve them.

VR, AR and Mixed Reality

effect of VR on language, memory retention, and interaction

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UX Resarch and Design

Utilizing my intense anthropological training in action

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VR, AR, MIXED REALITY AND HUMAN MEMORY

LEAD RESEARCHER
Dr. Norma Mendoza-Denton

PROJECT TIME
3 months

LOCATION
Los Angeles, CA

MY ROLE
Experience Researcher

MAIN OBJECTIVE
the effect of increased reality in a VR environment through multisensory enhancement on remembering events

SKILLS UTILIZED

Expertise in virtual reality technology and development
Knowledge of the principles of mixed reality and its application in collaborative settings
Proficiency in designing and implementing research studies
Ability to recruit participants and manage study logistics
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

OBJECTIVES

Understand the alignment of gesture, intonation, and object presentation in virtual environments
See whether increasing the "realness" in the game through multisensory enhancement leads to expanded pitch range and intonational contours
If VR and Mixed Reality impact how human listeners utilize cues to organize the construction and recall of memory traces

*Dr. Norma Mendoza-Denton is the lead researcher in this project. She ideated this project in 2022 and designed the research based on her two decades experience with human-centered studies and analyzing human interactions during video game sessions.

She leads and manages the project.

I joined the project in April 2023.

RESEARCH DESIGN

For this research study, *we have designed an interaction in collaborative Mixed Reality (a combination of virtual reality and physical reality) which combines a participant (player one) virtually immersed as an avatar in RPE interacting with a physical spotter (player two). Here's the summary of the design:

Recruited pairs of real-life friends with no prior exposure to the game to participate in the study
A general VR orientation to ensure players knew how to move safely and operate controllers
Player one wore a VR headset and played as their avatar-self walking down the plank, while player two monitored safety without a headset
The game was untimed, and players could repeat the task as much as they wanted within a one-hour total gameplay time
The first pass involved normal VR gameplay, while the second pass involved MR with a fan simulating wind and walking on a physical plank
These modifications were commonly used by RPE gamer communities to enhance the perception of "realness" in the game

Conducted health condition screening checklist and obtained informed consent from participants for the research study
Video recorded participants' gestures and gross bodily movements during the collaborative Mixed Reality interaction
Audio recorded participants' conversations during the gameplay
Collected in-game play data from the avatar's perspective using the virtual reality headset
Ensured participant safety with a designated spotter and a member of the research team present during the interaction
Provided a safe environment with a plushly carpeted lab floor to prevent physical harm
Monitored participants for symptoms of headache or VR motion sickness and instructed them to take a break or stop altogether if necessary

PARTICIPANT RECRUITMENT

Sample size determined based on small space, limited research assistant pool, and manageable timeline of 3 months
24 pairs or 48 total participants will be recruited
Population divided into same-gender and mixed-gender pairs and age categories: under 18 (parental consent required), 18-25 (Gen Z), 25-41 (Millennials), and over 41 (Gen X and Baby Boomers)
Recruitment ensureD the confidentiality of participants
Demographic diversity is considered during recruitment to ensure a representative sample

DATA ANALYSIS

Conducting discourse, gesture, and intonational analysis as the primary research method.
Utilizing naturally occurring gestures and intonational contours in our analysis.
The possibility of statistical analysis depends on the distribution of spontaneous gestures with intonational contours in our sample.

FUTURE OF THE PROJECT

The future of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) in the medical field, education, and judicial system, among others, is promising. VR and AR can be used in medicine for simulation-based training, preoperative planning, and patient education. VR and AR can also be used to improve the accessibility of medical care, such as telemedicine and remote surgery. In education, VR and AR can enhance learning experiences, improve student engagement and motivation, and provide a more immersive and interactive learning environment.

There are potential applications of VR/AR in the judicial system in crime scene investigation, witness testimony, and courtroom presentations. VR technology can provide more immersive and realistic simulations of crime scenes and accidents, allowing investigators to gather more evidence. AR technology can be used to enhance witness testimony by providing visual aids that help jurors better understand the circumstances of a case. Additionally, VR and AR can be used to create interactive simulations of court proceedings, allowing legal professionals to practice arguments and presentations. The future of VR and AR in the judicial system is promising, with many potential applications that could improve the accuracy and fairness of legal proceedings.

In light of the promising and transformative potential applications of Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR), it is imperative to examine their impact on our comprehension of human language, interaction, and collaboration. Of particular interest is the question of how VR/AR/Mixed Reality influences our memory function, and how this may affect instruction delivery in high-stress situations. Further research is needed to determine the most effective approach for optimizing outcomes of using VR/AR under such circumstances (for example, doctor-patient interaction).