What visual search activities can involve
Visual search activities may ask the person to:
- find a target object
- compare several objects
- ignore distractors
- check different parts of a scene
- respond to prompts
- repeat a search with changed object placement
- explain where they looked
The activity should have a clear goal. You should be able to explain what the person is being asked to find and what can be changed if the task is too easy or too demanding.
Why VR can be useful for visual search
In VR, search becomes spatial. The person may need to turn, look up or down, inspect shelves or surfaces, and move attention between areas of the scene.
That can create useful session material:
- where the person looked first
- whether they checked the full scene
- whether distractors pulled attention
- whether prompts helped
- whether search changed on a second attempt
This is not an assessment. It is activity behaviour that you can observe and discuss.
Activity variations
| Variation | What changes | Why it may help the session |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer targets | Reduce the number of objects to find | Makes the task easier to start |
| More distractors | Add irrelevant objects | Creates more visual choice |
| Different placement | Move objects around the scene | Changes the search pattern |
| Prompted search | Add cues or reminders | Supports the person during the task |
| Repeated search | Repeat with a changed layout | Creates comparison and discussion |
Review questions you can use
After a visual search activity, you may ask:
- What was the person looking for?
- Did they understand the target?
- Which area did they search first?
- Were any areas missed?
- Were distractors selected?
- Did prompts change the activity?
- Was the activity too visually busy?
- What should be changed next time?
These questions keep the focus on session review rather than automated judgement.
Building a visual search progression
A visual search activity can progress without changing the whole task. You can adjust one element at a time.
Example progression:
- One target object in a simple scene.
- One target object with a few distractors.
- Multiple target objects in different areas.
- Similar distractors added.
- The same task repeated with a new layout.
This kind of progression keeps the task familiar while changing the demand. It also gives you something specific to review: which change made the task harder or easier?
Common design mistakes
Visual search tasks can become less useful when they are too cluttered, too vague, or too dependent on guessing.
Avoid:
- unclear targets
- too many distractors too soon
- objects that are hard to distinguish
- no prompt plan
- no clear end point
- no review question after completion
How CorteXR Studio fits
CorteXR Studio includes immersive activity types that can support visual search, object finding, prompts, scene scanning, and task review during therapist-led sessions.
Studio can help therapists create repeatable search activities with spatial interaction and practical review material. It is non-medical activity software and does not diagnose, assess, monitor, treat, or measure outcomes.
For the wider activity overview, see the Studio activity library.
Related Studio resources
- VR occupational therapy activities
- Memory and attention activities for adults
- Sorting and object-use activities
- Functional cognition activities for OTs
Practical takeaway
Visual search activities are strongest when they are specific. The target should be clear, the visual load should be deliberate, and you should know what to review afterwards.
A good visual search session might begin with one obvious target and gradually introduce distractors, a changed layout, or more objects. That gives you a clearer view of how the activity changed, without making the task confusing from the start.
When to use visual search
Visual search can be a useful starting activity because the task is usually easy to explain. Find the item, check the scene, respond to the prompt. That makes it suitable for first sessions or for people who need a short, clear goal.
It may be less useful if the scene is too cluttered, the target is unclear, or the person is already uncomfortable with the headset. In those cases, you may need a simpler object-selection activity first.
What to review next
You can use the review to decide whether to repeat the same activity, change the layout, reduce visual load, or move into sorting, sequencing, or everyday simulation.
Example first session
A first visual search session could be very simple. You introduce the headset, explain that the person will look around the scene, and ask them to find one target object. The activity ends when the object is found or when you decide to pause.
The next version might use the same scene with a changed object location. A later version might add distractors or ask for more than one object. This keeps the structure familiar while changing the search demand.
For you, the useful review is specific: where did the person look first, what did they miss, did the prompt help, and should the next task be simpler or more varied?
FAQ
What is a visual search activity?
It is an activity where the person searches a scene or set of objects to find relevant information, targets, or cues.
Why use VR for visual search?
VR can make search spatial and active. The person can look around a scene, check different areas, and interact with objects.
Can visual search activities be graded?
They can often be varied by changing object number, placement, distractors, visual load, prompts, or repetition.
Does Studio assess visual search?
No. Studio provides activity material for therapist-led sessions. It does not diagnose, assess, monitor, treat, or measure outcomes.
Explore CorteXR Studio
Explore visual search and other Studio activity types.
Explore the activity library
Register interest
Studio note: CorteXR Studio is non-medical activity software for therapist-led sessions. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, monitor, prevent, or alleviate any disease, injury, or impairment.