VRTouch

VRTouch

Creating a realistic online shopping experience.

Creating a realistic online shopping experience.

A modular haptic suit paired with a VR headset that allows users to experience the texture, weight, and temperature of items in virtual environments.

Role

UI/UX Designer

Researcher

Video Editor

Project Duration

13 weeks

Team

4 UI/UX Designer

and Researcher


Online shopping offers unmatched convenience, yet one persistent limitation remains: users cannot physically interact with products before making a purchase. This gap leads to hesitation, dissatisfaction, and high return rates, especially in categories like clothing and furniture, where the feel of the material plays a crucial role in decision-making.

User Findings and Research

we conducted interviews with frequent online shoppers to understand their frustration & process.

we conducted interviews with frequent online shoppers to understand their frustration & process.

  1. Majority users prefer online shopping but avoid items requiring a sense of "touch".

  1. Purchasing decisions are based on reviews, real images, & return policies.


  1. Returns are common due to discrepancies between expectations & received products.


  1. Users want a system that convincingly replicates physical qualities of a product.

Defining Our Scope

With the data we gathered from all the extensive interviews, we created user personas that resembles the needs and wants of the interviewees mentioned.

Emily Carter Photo
Emily Carter Photo
Emily Carter Photo
Emily Carter Photo
Emily Carter Photo

The Fashion Enthusiast

Emily Carter

Age: 26

Occupation: Social Media Influencer

Tech Savviness: High


Shopping Habits

Shops online frequently, especially for clothing and accessories.


Relies on reviews, videos, and influencer recommendations.



Pain Points

Returns a lot of items due to unexpected fabric feel or poor fit.


Wishes online shopping could better replicate the in-store experience.



How VRTouch Helps

Allows her to "feel" materials before purchasing, reducing returns.


Adds an interactive layer to online fashion shopping.

Shopping Habits

Shops online frequently, especially for clothing and accessories.


Relies on reviews, videos, and influencer recommendations.



Pain Points

Returns a lot of items due to unexpected fabric feel or poor fit.


Wishes online shopping could better replicate the in-store experience.



How VRTouch Helps

Allows her to "feel" materials before purchasing, reducing returns.


Adds an interactive layer to online fashion shopping.

Sophie Smith Photo
Sophie Smith Photo
Sophie Smith Photo
Sophie Smith Photo
Sophie Smith Photo

The Practical Shopper

Sophie Smith

Age: 28

Occupation: Interior Designer

Tech Savviness: Medium


Shopping Habits

Buys home decor, furniture, and fabrics both online and in-store.


Needs to physically feel textures before making design decisions.



Pain Points

Online product descriptions don’t always match reality.


Hard to judge quality and texture without seeing products in person.



How VRTouch Helps

Can feel different fabric samples remotely before making bulk purchases.


Helps clients visualize and "touch" design options virtually

Shopping Habits

Buys home decor, furniture, and fabrics both online and in-store.


Needs to physically feel textures before making design decisions.



Pain Points

Online product descriptions don’t always match reality.


Hard to judge quality and texture without seeing products in person.



How VRTouch Helps

Can feel different fabric samples remotely before making bulk purchases.


Helps clients visualize and "touch" design options virtually

Before settling on the final prototype, our initial concept was a haptic feedback glove that would allow users to feel the texture, weight, and temperature of materials in a digital or virtual shopping environment. By connecting the glove with AR or VR systems, users could both see and touch products before purchasing them.


However, during our second round of interviews, we realized that users wanted to experience the product on other parts of the body as well, not just the hand.


As the product evolved toward the final solution, it became crucial for us to define its flow so that interviewees and users could clearly understand how this futuristic technology would work. We developed the following flow, which we used in our interviews to support both our low-fidelity and high-fidelity prototypes.

Before settling down on the final prototype, our initial idea was just a haptic feedback glove that would let users feel the texture, weight, and temperature of materials in a digital or virtual shopping environment. By connecting this glove with AR or VR systems, users would be able to see and touch products before buying them.

However, a second round of interviews led us to realize that the users wanted to feel the product on other parts of the body too, not just the hand.



unDraw Illustration of user selecting a product
  1. User selects a product on a website.

unDraw Illustration of user pasting a link's product
  1. User pastes the link on the web application of VRTouch.

unDraw Illustration of downloading
  1. Link is sent to the VR headset and images of the product are sent to GAN Model (Cloud).

unDraw Illustration of a person looking at DB
  1. Haptic signals from GAN Model are sent to bodysuit’s microcontrollers.

unDraw Illustration of a signals
  1. Bodysuit’s microcontroller signals the actuators, pads and modules to generate touch-like feeling.


unDraw Illustration of user using a VR headset
  1. User touches a fabric/material virtually.


unDraw Illustration of messaging
unDraw Illustration of messaging
  1. VR detects the movement.

unDraw Illustration of searching
  1. Texture data is retrieved from the GAN Model.

unDraw Illustration of user customizing some settings
  1. Microcontroller adjusts stimulator and vibrations.

  1. User selects a product on a website.

  1. User pastes the link on the web application of VRTouch.

  1. Haptic signals from GAN Model are sent to bodysuit’s microcontrollers.

  1. Link is sent to the VR headset and images of the product are sent to GAN Model (Cloud).

  1. Microcontroller adjusts stimulator and vibrations.

  1. VR detects the movement.

  1. Texture data is retrieved from the GAN Model.

  1. Bodysuit’s microcontroller signals the actuators, pads and modules to generate touch-like feeling.


  1. User touches a fabric/material virtually.


Along with this flowchart, for our next scheduled interview, we prepared low fidelity mockups to understand the needs and wants of a user to make our product adaptable, comfortable and accessible.

Lo-fi of VRTouch
Lo-fi of VRTouch
Lo-fi of VRTouch

Lo-fi User Testing & Feedback

we conducted "think aloud" interviews to get feedback on our lo-fi mockups.

  1. Users were concerned about the weight of the VR headsets.

  1. Users reported that changing of temperature added a noticeable sense of realism and made it easier to imagine what the product would feel like in real life.

  1. There were mixed opinions about using a full-body suit. Some users found it too bulky and preferred a more modular design that could be worn in parts.

  1. Users responded positively to the idea of personalization, particularly the option to adjust feedback strength based on personal comfort or sensitivity.

Our Solution

Reflecting on the feedback gathered, we settled for a modular haptic suit integrated with a VR shopping system. It allows users to:

Feel the texture, weight, & temperature of products.

Wear the system modularly; gloves only, partial suit, or full suit.

Customize the intensity of feedback to match comfort levels.


Generate real-time haptic simulations via a GAN model that transforms product images into tactile data.

Share avatars with others to recreate the social validation of in-store shopping.

unDraw Illustration of user selecting a product

Feel the texture, weight, & temperature of products.

unDraw Illustration of a iMac with a web app opened

Wear the system modularly; gloves only, partial suit, or full suit.

unDraw Illustration of user browsing products

Generate real-time haptic simulations via a GAN model that transforms product images into tactile data.

unDraw Illustration of user customizing

Customize the intensity of feedback to match comfort levels.


unDraw Illustration of user sharing

Share avatars with others to recreate the social validation of in-store shopping.

The suit is designed using breathable, lightweight lycra with embedded actuators and sensors. The VR headset includes gesture navigation, voice commands, and built-in accessibility features for people wearing glasses.

VRTouch haptic suit with a sleek VR headset and pair of lycra gloves
VRTouch haptic suit with a sleek VR headset and pair of lycra gloves

For our final round of interviews, we created a high-fidelity prototype and produced a demonstration video to showcase how our solution works in practice. This allowed interviewees to better visualize the functionality, interact with the concept indirectly, and provide more informed feedback on its usability and effectiveness.

Hi-fi User Testing & Feedback

we conducted "think aloud" interviews to get feedback on our hi-fi mockups.

  1. Users appreciated the ability to adjust feedback intensity in real time, which allowed them to tailor the experience to their comfort level.

  1. The comfort and lightweight design of the VR headset was a key talking point.

  1. The modularity of the suit, with its easy zip enclosure that makes it quicker and more convenient to put on, was appreciated.

  1. Users valued the availability of different input types, such as gesture control, voice commands, and traditional VR controllers which gave them greater flexibility.

Reflection

VRTouch demonstrated that haptic integration can increase trust in online shopping, reduce hesitation, and help users make more confident purchase decisions. For me, the biggest learning was the importance of translating abstract user needs into tangible design features. The project showed how crucial iteration and user testing are in shaping solutions, and that modularity, comfort, and adaptability are key when designing for emerging technologies.

Let's Connect. ☕️

Shout out to Xponentialdesign for the amazing blob video.

Prasoon

Let's Connect. ☕️

Shout out to Xponentialdesign for the amazing blob video.

Prasoon

Let's Connect. ☕️

Shout out to Xponentialdesign for

the amazing blob video.

Prasoon

Let's Connect. ☕️

Shout out to Xponentialdesign for the amazing blob video.

Prasoon

Let's Connect. ☕️

Shout out to Xponentialdesign for the amazing blob video.

Prasoon

Let's Connect. ☕️

Shout out to Xponentialdesign for the amazing blob video.

Prasoon