Our research addresses the challenges faced by blind and low-vision individuals in accessing musical performances by designing a conceptual framework for omnidirectional audio descriptions (AD) in virtual reality (VR). Study 1 comprised 19 semi-structured interviews with blind and low-vision AD users and 4 scenario-based, open-ended interviews with blind and low-vision AD professionals to derive three design concepts (Spatial AD, View-dependent AD, and Explorative AD). Building on these findings, in the second study, we conducted 14 additional semi-structured interviews with blind and low-vision AD users to further investigate key design dimensions, including the optimal level of descriptive detail, the incorporation of multiple spatial perspectives, and the trade-offs associated with performance pausing. Our framework integrates three tailored AD design concepts (Spatial AD, View-dependent AD, and Explorative AD) to enhance spatial orientation and narrative clarity in VR musical performances. The results underscore the importance of flexibility and user control, highlighting that adaptive AD systems offering customizable delivery modes may enrich the immersive experience for blind and low-vision audiences. Ultimately, our work contributes a user-centered, practically actionable framework that advances the accessibility of VR musical experiences.
Dang et al. (Thu,) studied this question.