Augmented Reality in UI Design

Introduction?

Ever wondered if we could check whether the furniture that we are trying to buy suits our room or will it fit as per the room size. Well, that was not possible 7-8 years back when the world was still adapting to the new applications that were launched every hour on the AppStore and Playstore. Apps like games, e-commerce platforms, note-taking, music players, etc.

But the world is much more advanced now as compared to before and we all have become comfortable using traditional apps. But as the saying goes ‘Change is the only constant’, as we became comfortable using traditional applications, we were then introduced to new technologies like ‘Augmented Reality (AR)’ and ‘Virtual Reality (VR)’. In this blog, we will be talking about augmented reality in user interface design and its use cases in real-life scenarios.

What is Augmented Reality (AR)??

Augmented reality (AR) is a technology that puts 3D elements on top of the real world. With AR apps, instead of just seeing information, users interact with it and receive live feedback on the action they have performed. So you can see an animal on your carpet in your living room. Or you can catch Pikachu that is dancing on your sofa. Or you can put dog ears on your own head. You got the idea, right??

Difference between AR and VR?

Virtual reality is often confused with augmented reality, but the difference is really simple. VR offers a fully created new world i.e. virtual world, without any elements of the physical world we are part of. AR connects the virtual world with our own, mixing elements together of the real and virtual world. For VR we need to buy a VR headset to experience it. But for AR you just need your phone and a camera in it.?

Why AR is required?

If we talk about the future of UX and UI design, AR-driven UX/UI will definitely play a major part. Hence, there is no chance that we deny the importance of these newborn technologies.

Here are a few key points of why we think about its importance:

• AR technologies will get you the most real-time user feedback on what they are doing with the app.
• Understanding designs will be easy, better and more accurate with the help of AR-driven features.
• It will help end-users to get the most out of anything they spend time and money after.

What should a product designer consider when designing for AR??

When designing an AR app, there are a couple of things a designer should keep in mind

a. Keep It Simple Stupid (KISS)

Traditional apps are designed considering the dimensions of mobile screens but for the AR app, the interface is the real world i.e. people interact with the real world using their phone.?The phone screen just acts like a window for accessing the AR features in the real world. So the interface for an AR app should not be cluttered with different UI elements like buttons, popups, alerts, etc. It should be kept simple, minimal and distraction-free for users.

b. Use familiar UI patterns

Many designers try to reinvent the wheel while experimenting with AR apps. They try to introduce new or modify existing user interaction patterns as per their convenience and understanding and this increases the learning curve for the new users. Even though AR is a new technology, the designers should leverage the knowledge majority of the users have about using an application. They can use existing interaction patterns like a drag, swipe left, right, top, bottom, pinch to zoom, etc.?

c. Use audio

Audio is one of the best ways to notify users about the actions. Users of an AR app are going to use the application at any time of the day, and during bright daylight, it is very difficult for a user to read notifications or alerts on the screen. From a good UX perspective, it would be great if a user is alerted using audio notifications instead of just showing it on a mobile screen.?

d. Security?

Using an AR app can be tricky sometimes if the app is not designed considering security aspects. I’m not talking about data security. It’s about usability security i.e. if a user is trusting and using the application to see the real world through it, every element of the real world should be presented to the user. If the application misses any element from the real world, the user might bump into objects like rocks, pillars, street lights, etc. which can cause physical injuries to the user.

Examples of AR applications

1. IKEA app

IKEA app is one of the best examples of augmented reality where a user can check whether the selected furniture will fit in his room and will the color suit with the existing furniture in his room. They can try from a small decorative flower pot for their work table to a large queen size bed for their bedroom.?

2. Pokemon GO?

This gaming app has revolutionized the gaming world. Though the game can be used in normal mode with artificial maps but the real experience of the game is when a user uses it in AR mode where he can see the pokemon present in their hall, kitchen, table, fan, etc. and try to catch it with virtual poke balls.

3. Google AR – Animals

Google AR for animals is one of those examples where AR is used for educational purposes. It’s very difficult to physically visit a zoo during this pandemic, but kids can still get the near to real experience of seeing an animal in a 3d form using this technology.?

4. Disney Coloring Book

Disney colouring book converts your 2d images into 3d objects. This can be fun while experimenting with the feature on different 2d images.

5. L’Oreal makeup app

L’oreal makeup app uses AR technology to test makeup kits virtually on the users. It gives users an idea about how their face will look after applying that particular product. One similar example is Lenskart. Lenskart has a feature called 3D to try on which lets users virtually test the glasses on their faces.

Conclusion?

Technology is supposed to make our lives comfortable and sorted. To sort out our real-time problems, save our hard-earned money and make the best decisions, AR technology is the next big thing. And the window to the technology is the User Interface design.

AR is one of those emerging technologies that have an opportunity to change the way we interact with digital products.

The most important thing that any product or UI/UX designer should remember about AR is that it’s just a technology. With each product, people are seeking out experiences, not technologies, and they won’t like a technology that is difficult to use.