Problem to be solved
Envir-Aware Ltd. is developing Enviro-Bin-Aware, a VR educational game aimed at improving recycling awareness and behaviour in Ireland. The experience is designed to engage users—particularly students and adults—with interactive, immersive recycling challenges in a virtual world. With the game nearing its pilot-ready stage, Envir-Aware Ltd. engaged the Nimbus UX & XR Research Teams to evaluate the usability and educational effectiveness of the game and ensure its readiness for broader deployment.
Solution
The project followed a collaborative co-design and user-centred research process. A series of requirements gathering sessions were organised, combining expertise from the Envir-Aware client and the Nimbus Gateway UX & XR Research Teams. These sessions informed the development of detailed usability testing protocols, including participant recruitment strategies, methodology plans, test scenarios, moderator scripts, and evaluation forms.
Moderated user research sessions were conducted using the Meta Quest 3 VR headset, each lasting approximately one hour. These sessions involved:
• A semi-structured pre-test interview to understand user expectations and familiarity with recycling
• Direct gameplay observation while users completed key game tasks (e.g., sorting waste, progressing through game stages)
• A debrief interview with post-task feedback on clarity, enjoyment, difficulty, and perceived educational value
A mixture of qualitative feedback and analysis methods, video recordings were used to capture live feedback. Testing focused not only on gameplay mechanics but also on accessibility, comfort, clarity of instructions, and educational takeaways.
Deliverables
Key outputs included:
• A comprehensive UX Evaluation Report summarising findings from user testing
• A Heuristic Evaluation Report analysing the game’s interface and interaction design based on established usability principles
• A list of actionable recommendations to improve game clarity, reduce motion discomfort, enhance feedback systems, and better communicate recycling standards.
Impact for the company
Envir-Aware Ltd. is a small but innovative company aiming to contribute to environmental awareness through immersive technology. This UX research project reduced development risk by identifying usability and comprehension issues. The findings also informed refinements to the interaction design, visual hierarchy, game flow, ensuring the game resonates with target audiences across different age groups.
I have worked for myself in business for over 45 years, however in planning & developing the interactive Enviro Bin Aware VR App, I honestly don’t think I could have wished to work alongside a more resourceful, supportive group of professionals than the Nimbus Research Centre team. It was so reassuring for me that the team were always there to guide, direct and encourage me to develop what I believe will be a unique environmental educational VR experience for all users. Following my own positive involvement to date with Nimbus Research Centre, I would encourage any would be SME or entrepreneur with an innovative idea no matter how obscure it may sound; to reach out to the Nimbus Research Centre and avail of the vast professional expertise they have to offer.
Jim Mulcahy
CEO & Founder
