Heuristic 0. Strategic Calibration​

Is the "Immersion Knob" turned to the right level for the mission?

Goal: Don't use a "Transcendent" level of immersion for a simple safety checklist. It is critical to match the depth to the goal.

Audit:  Does the level of "realness" actually help the user, or is it distracting/wasted budget?​​​​

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Heuristic 1.Sensory Synchronisation

Are the senses (eyes, ears, skin) in synchronized truth?​

Goal: If the timing is off, the illusion breaks.

Audit: Is there any delay between seeing an action and hearing/feeling it? Does a heavy object sound and feel heavy when you touch it?

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Heuristic 2. The Physical-Digital Transition

Is the movement into and out of the world stable and safe?

Goal: The brain needs time to adjust to a new set of physical laws.

Audit: Is there a "warm-up" period that lets the user's body adjust before the action starts? Does the user feel physically grounded and safe during the first minute?

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Heuristic 3. Naturalness of Control

Can the user act via instinct rather than instruction? 

Goal: The most successful interface is one the user forgets they are using.

Audit: Can a first-time user interact with objects without being told which buttons to press? Do the virtual hands and body move exactly where the user expects them to?

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Heuristic 4. Multisensory Processing

Is the brain's "bandwidth" respected to avoid a "Data Storm"?

Goal: Avoid a Data Storm—where too many flashes, sounds, and texts happen at once, causing the user's brain to "freeze" or feel overwhelmed.

Audit: Are the different senses working together, or is the user being bombarded with too much noise?Is the user's attention being guided naturally to the most important thing?

 

Heuristic 5. Self-Healing Recovery

How gracefully does the world handle technical or physical glitches?

Goal: When a tracking error happens, don't just "crash" the user's senses.

Audit: If the system lags, is there a visual "safety net" to keep the user from feeling sick? Does the story pause when a glitch occurs, or does the user miss important moments?

 

Heuristic 6: Collaborative Presence

Does the presence of others enhance or hinder the goal?

Goal: Optimizing the "vibe" and connection between people in the space.

Audit: Can you read the body language and "intent" of other people clearly? Can multiple people touch or use the same object without it feeling "glitchy"?

 

Heuristic 7.Texture & Layering

Is there enough detail to make the space feel "lived-in"?

Goal: A sterile world feels fake; a world with "scuffs and history" feels real.

Audit: Does the environment show signs of use (like dust or wear) that make it feel like a real place? Are there layers of sound and light that make the world feel "deep" rather than flat?

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Heuristic 8. Multi-Traveler Storytelling

Does the experience adapt to the diverse needs of different people?

Goal: Ensuring a child and a grandparent can walk through the same space and both have a high-quality experience.

Audit: Can a beginner and an expert both find something meaningful at their own pace? Are there different layers of information for people with different interests or needs?

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Heuristic 9.Conscious Cultural Triggers

Are familiar symbols used to anchor the unfamiliar?

Goal: Use known symbols so users don't have to learn a new "language."

Audit: Are the symbols used culturally appropriate and resonant with the target audience? Can a user understand what an object does just by looking at its shape or color?

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Heuristic 10. Emotional Arc & Meaningful Closure 

Does the journey manage the emotional pacing well to create a lasting memory?

Goal: To engineer a deliberate flow of tension and release. An effective experience avoids "plateau fatigue" by alternating between moments of high excitement ("Up" beats) and restorative rest ("Down" beats), ultimately leading to a satisfying conclusion.

Audit: Are there defined "breathers" after high-intensity moments to allow for reflection? Does the emotional tension build toward a clear climax? Is there a "cool-down" period to help the traveler transition back to the real world without emotional whiplash? Does the final beat leave the traveler with a resonant, meaningful takeaway?​

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Heuristic 11. Bio-symmetry

Is the biological animal (the human) physically capable of sustaining the digital mission?

Goal: To ensure the cumulative physical load—heat, weight, scent intensity, and ergonomic strain—doesn’t trigger a biological "survival" response that overrides immersion.

Audit: Does the thermal output of the hardware or suit exceed the traveler's comfort range? Does the "Action Zone" accommodate spatial equity for seated or mobile-impaired users Has "Texture" (like a smell or haptic) crossed the line into "Somatic Load" (nausea or pain)?​

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Heuristic 12. The Seed

Does the experience plant meaning that grows after the experience is over?

Goal: To move from "Active Immersion" to "Passive Growth," by planting a core truth or emotional insight that only fully blooms in the silence following the experience. 

Audit: Does the experience leave "white space" for the user to project their own meaning? Is there a resonant takeaway that persists once the physical and digital stimulation stops? Does the conclusion feel like a "Full Stop" that ends the story, or a "Comma" that invites the traveler to continue the narrative in their own life??

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