Design and Usability Evaluation of a Virtual Reality–Based Information System for Solar Photovoltaic Awareness

Abstract

Virtual reality (VR) has increasingly been adopted as a platform for interactive information systems that support user engagement and system understanding through immersive interaction. This paper presents the design, implementation, and usability evaluation of PV Gallery, a VR–based information system developed to support user awareness and system-level understanding of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. The system integrates structured onboarding, interactive informational modules, and a task-based component placement mechanism within a unified VR environment. A usability evaluation was conducted with 21 participants using a structured questionnaire assessing system usefulness, ease of use, ease of learning, user satisfaction, and perceived understanding. Descriptive statistics, reliability analysis using Cronbach’s alpha, and independent-samples t-tests were employed to examine system usability and user perception differences. The results indicate high user satisfaction and interaction intuitiveness, with strong internal consistency observed across most usability dimensions. Differences related to comfort and perceived usefulness highlight the importance of ergonomic and inclusive design considerations in VR-based information systems. The findings demonstrate the feasibility of VR as an interactive information system for presenting multi-component technological systems and provide practical insights for the design and evaluation of user-centered VR systems in engineering and management contexts.