Onboarding and offboarding in virtual reality: A user-centred framework for audience experience across genres and spaces

Virtual reality (VR) technology is an emerging medium of experience in many different public-facing entertainment and cultural contexts, such as immersive theatre, live performance, VR film festivals, gaming arcades, escape rooms, museum exhibitions. The processes ushering audience members or users into the virtual out again, to which I refer here ‘onboarding’ ‘offboarding’, have been considered within some specific on a case-by-case basis, but date no systematised consideration onboarding offboarding has produced. One reason for this that ambiguities disciplinary practical definitions immersion obscured relationship between users. Clarification results clear evidence need attention contexts. In paper, define offboarding, present framework considering experiences audiences helps stakeholders identify both their responsibilities best way facilitate experience. This based upon identifying goals, centred affordances principles presence, utilises Immersive Audience Framework developed by StoryFutures its interdisciplinary research with since 2019.