Beyond Standard Controllers: How VR Expertise Shapes Usability, Cognitive Load, and Presence with Task-Representative Input Devices

Abstract

Standard controllers remain the most common input devices in virtual reality (VR) applications, whether for entertainment, training, health care or others. Task-representative input devices are gaining momentum for enhancing realism and interaction fidelity. However, the role of VR expertise remains underexplored, despite its potential influence on overall user experience, an issue that becomes increasingly relevant as VR continues to be used in scenarios other than video games. This paper investigates how VR expertise moderates the impact of task-representative alternative input devices (AUIDs) on usability, cognitive load, and presence across six heterogeneous VR applications spanning entertainment and serious-game contexts. We conducted a study with 24 (12 novice and 12 VR experienced) participants who completed onboarding tasks using either standard VR controllers or AUIDs to better approximate real-world tool affordances. Results show that task-representative AUIDs consistently improved usability and presence while reducing cognitive load for novice users. In contrast, experienced users exhibited smaller and more application-dependent effects. These findings suggest that the benefits of increased physical realism are expertise-dependent rather than universal. We argue for an expertise-aware approach to VR interaction design, in which input-device selection considers user experience level.