What is a good AR concept design 2

While the seamless interaction between an AR idea and the real world is indeed crucial for its success, it merely forms the foundation of a good AR concept design. To truly elevate AR experiences and make them exceptional, we have identified several additional key elements that enhance their impact and appeal.

1. Embodiment:

Filters, like those found in popular applications such as Apple FaceTime, Snapchat, and TikTok, have become incredibly successful. These filters utilize facial recognition technology to create augmented reality (AR) effects on people's faces. However, despite being a form of AR, they are still commonly referred to as "filters" rather than recognized as AR experiences.

Why is that? It's because the usage scenario of filters involves individuals looking at a smartphone screen, either alone or with someone else. In people's minds, this concept is associated with "filters". When interacting with filters, you are engaging with the smartphone screen, not the physical reality. People tend to view the content on the screen as an illusion or enhancement separate from the physical world. Although the face may be augmented with effects, it remains confined within the screen. It lacks embodiment.

One key distinction is that these filter interactions primarily occur on the screen, not in the physical reality. People tend to view the content on the screen as an illusion or enhancement separate from the physical world. Although the face may be augmented with effects, it remains confined within the screen and lacks physical embodiment.

To truly establish the concept of AR in people's minds, it is essential to provide immersive experiences that go beyond screen interactions. Immersion involves using our senses to directly observe, physically move, and use our hands to manipulate virtual objects as if they were physically present. This embodiment allows us to engage with the environment using our whole body, rather than relying solely on screens or using controllers.

2. Flow:

One of the ultimate questions in AR is why people would want to wear heavy AR glasses or headsets instead of using their smartphone screens. The answer lies in providing a sense of accomplishment and flow. AR experiences should be designed to offer a continuous and rewarding flow of engagement, similar to addictive gaming or other apps that keep users hooked. AR has unique advantages in creating flow, such as facilitating multiplayer experiences, incorporating AI characters for interaction, and utilizing real-world physical environments.

3. Unfamiliar Familiarity:

Instead of imitating existing real-world objects, AR experiences should aim to provide a sense of unfamiliar familiarity. Rendering non-interactive static objects in AR is not a compelling idea, as they cannot match the real-world counterparts in terms of touch and feel. However, creating AR objects that resemble familiar objects but possess unexpected qualities or abilities can spark interest and create a contrast that adds humor and novelty to the experience.

4. Content that Constantly Evolves with Time and Space:

AR experiences should be designed to incorporate changes in both time and space to create a dynamic and ever-evolving environment. By allowing users to move around and explore different locations, AR can provide a unique blend of physical and digital interactions that change based on the user's actions. This makes AR well-suited for visual effects and interactive storytelling that seamlessly integrates with the user's surroundings.

5. Interactive Affordance:

AR experiences should offer intuitive affordances for interaction, making them easy to operate, understand, and engage with. This can be achieved through familiar gestures or through multimodal design that combines different senses. A good example of interactive affordance is the design of a magic wand in the Mofa series, which enables users to cast spells simply by waving the wand. Providing real-time tracking and feedback through devices like smartwatches enhances the overall interactive experience.

6. Non-Visual Feedback:

AR experiences should aim to compensate for the lack of haptic feedback by incorporating other modalities, such as sound. Sound plays a crucial role in providing feedback and creating a more immersive experience. Whether it's interactive sound effects or spatial audio, incorporating non-visual feedback enhances the overall AR experience and compensates for the absence of tactile sensations.

Conclusion

In order to create compelling AR experiences, it is essential to understand the rules and distinct qualities of this media. Selecting the appropriate design approach is crucial in shaping the AR content, as it can greatly amplify the results with minimal effort. Conversely, opting for the wrong design path can result in a nonsensical and unsatisfactory experience. By incorporating the elements above, AR can go beyond mere filters and become a truly immersive and engaging technology that blurs the boundaries between the physical and digital worlds.