Usability and Users’ Experience of EXecutive-functions Innovative Tool (EXIT 360°)

Executive dysfunction represents a health problem due to its high impact on everyday life. Thus, the early assessment of these impairments is crucial. The ecological limitations of traditional neuropsychological batteries and difficulties in administering tests in real-life scenarios have led to the use of technological tools to assess executive functions in real life. Over the last decades, several studies have shown the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of VR-based tools in the early evaluation of executive dysfunctions in different clinical populations. This work wanted to test usability and users’ experience of EXecutive-functions Innovative Tool (360°), a 360°-based tool for assessing executive dysfunctions in a pilot evaluation study involving 23 healthy young subjects. This evaluation consisted of 1) usability assessment using the System Usability Scale and, 2) user experience evaluation by the User Experience Questionnaire and ICT-Sense of Presence. Results showed encouraging and interesting data regarding usability, user experience, and engagement of EXIT 360°. Overall, EXIT 360° appeared to be a usable, easy-to-learn, engaging, creative, and challenging tool with good spatial presence, excellent ecological validity, and few and irrelevant adverse effects. Further studies will have to be conducted to evaluate all these aspects in healthy adults and elderly subjects and a clinical population.