What AR user-centered design methodologies are most effective?

My first project with AR was more than 10 years ago, using Unity + Vuforia & City Engine (later acquired by ESRI) to generate the 3D Urban Model on top of a physical city map, that acted as a custom marker to trigger the visualization. It was showcased in the annual users summit and in 2012 it was a blast... ;) AR powered solutions are typically challenging because you do need to align several dimensions (technology, user experience, design, creativity, physical contexts, ...). Depending on the budget, use cases, intended life cycle and audience I would bet on a mix of User Journey Mapping, Contextual Inquiry, Prototyping and Iterative Design and User Education & Onboarding. Be pragmatic... push the envelope but focus on the real value!

- Build contextual empathy: Go beyond user demographics and delve into their real-world lives. Observe users in their environments, and tailor the AR experiences to seamlessly integrate into it. - Focus on micro-interactions: Every touch, gesture, and glance matters in AR. Obsess over designing natural and intuitive micro-interactions such as swipe, tap or gaze. - Prioritize Safety and Privacy: Design experiences that consider potential issues like eye strain, motion sickness, and cognitive overload to minimize frustration. Additionally, be transparent about data collection and respect user privacy.

Think of making Augmented Reality more user centric, like making a really good recipe. First, we start by understanding users – they're like the secret ingredient. Next, imagine AR apps being smooth and easy to use – we're keeping things simple. It's important to be inclusive, so AR experiences should work well on different devices, welcoming everyone to join in. Now, here's the cool part: think about AR fitting seamlessly with what users are doing, using real-time info and their surroundings. We're basically making AR a part of everyday life. So, we want AR that's easy for users, works on different devices, and fits in naturally with what they're up to – like cooking up something awesome in the world of augmented reality.

Design for the real world: Consider physical surroundings, movement, and interaction with real objects. Balance sensory cues: Use visual, auditory, haptic, and olfactory cues to create immersive experiences. Support user goals: Provide relevant and timely AR information and functionality. Avoid issues: Prevent eye strain, motion sickness, cognitive overload, and privacy concerns in AR design. These principles are essential for effective AR user-centered design.

User-centric design methodologies in AR for architectural use in the construction industry using Building Information Management (BIM) to prioritize the needs and experiences of the end users. This approach ensures that the technology is tailored to enhance the user's specific tasks and workflows. When using augmented reality glasses with BIM modeling an intuitive and seamless user interface to save time and money with layered visualization to confirm accuracy to design intent and avoid collisions e.g. conduit and plumbing. Optimization of the user's experience and productivity by integrating augmented reality into their existing workflows and tasks, ultimately improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the construction process.

Effective AR user-centered design methods include: Interviews, surveys, and observations to gather user insights. Creating fictional characters to understand user characteristics and motivations. Describing realistic scenarios to illustrate AR usage in context. Developing low or high-fidelity prototypes to demonstrate features. User testing to measure usability, effectiveness, and satisfaction. For example, when designing an AR navigation app, conducting interviews with potential users helps understand their needs. Creating user personas based on these interviews can clarify user goals. These methods collectively enhance AR design.

Empatia, defini??o, idealiza??o, prototipa??o e teste s?o elementos da abordagem de design thinking. Os princípios fundamentais do UCD concentram-se nos requisitos do usuário. O uso do UCD é uma abordagem iterativa que inclui a participa??o dos usuários durante todo o processo de design. A escolha da metodologia é determinada pelo projeto e pelos requisitos do usuário.

Realizar entrevistas en el entorno donde los usuarios interactuarán con la realidad aumentada. Crear mapas de empatía para comprender mejor las experiencias y emociones de los usuarios relacionadas con la realidad aumentada. Utilizar técnicas de narración para crear historias que ilustren cómo los usuarios podrían interactuar con la realidad aumentada en diferentes escenarios. Involucrar a los usuarios en la creación de experiencias de realidad aumentada, permitiéndoles aportar ideas y sugerencias durante el proceso de dise?o. Recopilar y analizar datos de uso una vez que la experiencia de AR esté en marcha para entender cómo los usuarios interactúan y qué ajustes pueden ser necesarios.

Effective AR user-centered design methodologies include:- user research, persona development, task analysis, iterative prototyping, real-world user testing, contextual usability testing, AR-specific heuristics, co-design workshops, user feedback, accessibility considerations, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and continuous evaluation.

Modern AR UCD methods blend traditional user research with AI, enhancing discovery and dynamic persona creation, exemplified by models like Stingray. This integration facilitates deeper understanding of user behaviors and preferences. Prototyping evolves into interactive models, essential for validating functionalities and interactions in real-world contexts. Usability and interaction tests further refine AR solutions, ensuring they meet user expectations for an intuitive and engaging experience. This holistic approach to design emphasizes user-centric development, leveraging technology to adapt and respond to user needs dynamically.

AR UCD principles emphasize designing for the real world, balancing sensory cues, supporting user goals, and avoiding issues like eye strain or privacy concerns. AR UCD methods involve user research through interviews, surveys, and observations, as well as creating user personas and realistic scenarios. Prototyping and user testing play a crucial role in evaluating AR designs. AR UCD tools include sketching, wireframing, AR authoring software (e.g., Unity), and real-world testing devices like smartphones or headsets. Personal experience involves using wireframing tools to create interactive AR mockups, facilitating user testing for improved designs.

Apart from Vuforia Studio, there are other AR UCD tools that engineering managers and developers might consider: - Unity MARS (Mixed and Augmented Reality Studio): Unity MARS is beneficial for creating AR applications that seamlessly integrate with the real world, can employ Unity MARS for developing interactive training simulations, where employees can practice assembling complex machinery in a virtual environment. - ARKit and ARCore: These SDKs from Apple and Google are suitable for creating AR applications for mobile devices. - Blippar: Blippar is known for its markerless AR experiences. Customers can use a mobile app to view 3D models of products and access detailed information by simply pointing their device at the catalog.

Realizar entrevistas en profundidad con usuarios para comprender sus comportamientos, expectativas y necesidades en relación con la AR. Lens Studio (Snapchat): Permite crear Lenses de realidad aumentada personalizados para Snapchat. ARKit (iOS) y ARCore (Android): Plataformas de desarrollo para crear experiencias de AR en dispositivos móviles. Unity y Unreal Engine: Herramientas de desarrollo de juegos que admiten la creación de experiencias de AR. Blender: Una herramienta de modelado y animación 3D gratuita y de código abierto. Google Analytics para AR: Proporciona información sobre cómo los usuarios interactúan con experiencias de AR, incluyendo métricas como tiempo de permanencia y acciones realizadas. (ARA), (Story Prototyping)

UCD tools aid in designing products with users in mind. They include tools for understanding users' needs, like surveys and interviews. Prototyping tools like Sketch or Figma help visualize designs for testing. Collaboration tools such as Miro facilitate teamwork and feedback. Analytics tools like Google Analytics track user interactions for insights. Accessibility tools ensure products are usable by everyone. These tools support different stages of the design process, from research to testing and iteration. By using these tools, designers can create products that meet user needs, are easy to use, and accessible to all.

I worked on an AR project for recognizing wine bottle labels, with augmented addition of information about the wine in the form of animations and videos. Here is the user-centered design process I used: - User Research: I started by studying the behavior and needs of wine enthusiasts and professionals. - Defining Needs: From this research, I defined specific needs for the application. - Developing Personas: I created several personas representing our target users. - Design and Prototyping: I developed initial wireframes and prototypes for the AR application interface. - Usability Testing: I conducted usability tests with real users. - Iteration Based on Feedback: I used the feedback from testing to refine and improve the application.

Effective AR design methods include observing users, creating personas, mapping user journeys, testing prototypes, collaborating with stakeholders, evaluating designs, gathering feedback, and ensuring accessibility. These methods help create AR experiences that are easy to use, engaging, and inclusive for all users.

"En cada proyecto de realidad aumentada, es esencial fusionar creatividad con empatía, adoptar un enfoque iterativo centrado en el usuario y aprovechar herramientas de vanguardia para ofrecer experiencias inmersivas y significativas."

AR has only been used in Artist Scenarios and gaming. To better utilize it, we should give useful functionality to the overall goal of the project.

Augmented Reality (AR) stands out as cutting-edge technology, offering users a transformative experience. However, frustration often arises when attempting to use AR applications, as users encounter challenges in scanning surfaces accurately. The mismatch between the AR objects' appearance and the real environment can lead to confusion and dislike of the application. To address this, there's a need for clear instructions within applications, emphasizing simple actions like rotating the mobile device to scan a flat surface. Providing such guidance can enhance user understanding and result in a more enjoyable AR experience.

I would say prototyping, user testing and taking references from feedbacks. Using feedbacks and making observations from live testing gives the developer or designer avenue to view product in use live and get valuable insights. Regular testing also helps bring to light underlining problems.