The hygienic choreography of VR

Hygiene protocol for Diversion virtual reality spaces

For 4 years, Diversion has been creating and operating VR spaces of all sizes, all over the world – for the Venice Mostra, ARTE, or French Museums – with a continual concern for the hygiene and the comfort of the spectator.

Our hygienic process has included, since its creation, the use of washable material covers for VR headsets (VR covers) and Baccide wipes known for their bactericidal, virucidal, and fungicidal properties. These are applied to headsets, headphones, controllers, etc, after each use.

Until now, hygiene had to be impeccable but discreet. With the sanitary crisis of COVID-19, it is necessary to put our reinforced standards onto paper, to respect the hygiene measures of public places, to reassure the spectators, and thus ensure their health.

This protocol is the result of a cross-study of the official protocols of VR institutions and venues such as the Covid-19 Mindout Health Protocol (May 2020), Hologate Hygiene and Safety Standards (May 2020), IAAPA Covid-19 Reopening Guidance – Considerations for the Global Attractions Industry, the XR Pavilion Health Protocol (July 2020) and of our exchanges with professionals of the XR sector, via XRcrowd or during the AFXR conference on July 2nd.

The basics

• Double disinfection: a recent (yet unpublished) study proves that VR users feel safer if several disinfection techniques are used cumulatively.
  • disinfection #1: the wipes used are Baccide wipes, which comply with the AFNOR EN 14-476 standard (European directive DI 93/42/CE 14/06/1993) and have bactericidal, fungicidal and virucidal properties.
  • disinfection #2: via the UV-C disinfection technology developed by Cleanbox technologies.
• Social distancing: the user path is adapted to barrier gestures. Everything is thought out to reduce the handling of equipment to reduce the risk as much as possible.
• It is necessary to stage this hygienic process. Quality disinfection also involves staging this “hygienic choreography”, in all its transparency, to ensure everyone’s confidence and health.

The following points should be kept in mind: FFP2 or FFP1 type masks tend to create fog in the headset – thus multiplying the presence of droplets coming from the spectator’s breath inside the headset. We recommend not using them in VR, as social distancing is respected and the equipment is disinfected.

Convert location and offer free access to hygiene

• Hydroalcoholic gel available to the public upon entry
• Floor marking for queuing in front of each location
• Tables for hydroalcoholic gel/wipes at each location (stand-up stations and VR cinema)

Disposable VR face under-mask proposed to each customer upon entry.

It is necessary to inform the public about the protocol: explanatory panels with the different aspects of the hygiene protocol are placed in the space.

Protecting VR operators

• Masks with AFNOR standards and hydroalcoholic gel are supplied by the company to all VR operators: 2 masks per day per operator, to be disinfected every day – in boiling water for 3 minutes.
• Systematic use of hydroalcoholic gel.
• Any VR operator with any of the symptoms of Covid-19 (fever, cough, loss of taste/odor, breathing difficulties) should be sent home. If one of these symptoms appear during a session, we will replace the VR operator as soon as possible.

Specific measures for the VR cinema

General measures

• Minimum of 1-meter distance between each seat
• Cleaning of the operator’s hands with hydroalcoholic gel regularly during the performance
• Cross-use of Baccide wipes and UV-C technology
• Seat cleaning with Baccide wipes between each session
• Gel & wipes made available to the public at the entrance of the space

Process:

• Set up two large tables with indication: Used VR headsets and Disinfected VR headsets, with the Cleanbox in between. The table for disinfected VR headsets should be close to the entrance.
• If it is necessary to touch a client’s VR mask, hands must always be cleaned beforehand.
  1. The spectator must disinfect his/her hands at the entrance, wipes are also offered to further disinfect his/her seat if he/she prefers to.
  2. The spectator takes his/her VR headset and headphones from the Disinfected VR headsets table on his/her way in.
  3. The spectator chooses his/her seat and settles down, he/she is the only one who has touched his/her VR headset.
  4. End of the session: The spectator brings his/her VR headset on the table “Used VR headsets“.
  5. Operator #1 wipes the inside and outside of the VR headset & headphones and then wipes the lenses with a chamoisine (glasses cloth).
  6. Operator #2 cleans his/her hands with gel, passes the VR headset in the Cleanbox (1mn cleaning per headset), then places them on the “Disinfected VR headsets” table.
  7. One of the 2 operators cleans the seats with the Baccide wipe, in particular, the front edge of the seat regularly touched by spectators.

Specific measures for interactive stations

A Cleanbox is placed on a trolley with wheels.

The operator in charge of the trolley moves to each VR station to be cleaned.

1. Before the VR experience, the spectator takes the VR headset directly from the hook next to the VR station. The operator explains how to put it on by pointing to all parts of the headsets without touching it.
2. At the end of the VR experience, Operator #1 cleans his/her hands with gel, and the spectator returns the headset to the operator.
3. Operator #1 wipes the inside and outside of the mask with Baccide wipes, and then uses a chamoisine on the lenses.
4. Operator #2 puts the VR headset into the Cleanbox, disinfects his hands and puts back the headset on the hook next to the station.

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