An Evaluation of User Experience in a Virtual Semiconductor Laboratory Utilizing HMDs during Covid-19 Pandemic

Virtual reality (VR) technology has been increasingly adopted for creating engaging educational environments, such as virtual laboratories. This study evaluated the user experience of a virtual semiconductor laboratory environment, utilizing Reverb G2 HMD VR headsets, through a user experience questionnaire (UEQ-S) and a psychometric analysis of its 26 items. Results showed that most participants found the virtual laboratories enjoyable, understandable, creative, easy to learn, and valuable. The psychometric analysis revealed relatively consistent and reliable construct related to user experience. The Kruskal-Wallis H test demonstrated that participants perceived the VR headsets to be easier to use when they found the virtual laboratories more enjoyable. However, there were no significant differences in user experience scores based on preferred VR headset, and user experience did not predict headset preference. These findings suggest that VR technology presents a promising solution for addressing practical challenges in education and fostering student engagement, although further research is needed to optimize the user experience and enhance student motivation.