Augmented Reality is changing the way we perceive the world, it is a growing market being embraced by several industries and creating jobs. If you want to take part on this growing interactive world, you can start by reading these 4 User Experience tips for AR developers:
- Define the functionality of your AR solution. What is it developed for?
With the boom of Augmented Reality (AR), a lot of AR apps have been developed and sent to the market. The main problem of most of them is their functionality, they don’t really have a main purpose that uses AR benefits to its advantage, they are just apps that feature AR. The true value of Augmented Reality is not just the technology but the immersive interactive experience it provides the user.
When developing AR, you should find a problem or situation that can be solved using AR. For example, for the development of skills training in fields such as healthcare or industry, AR gives new learners the opportunity to learn without taking any risks, while still being in contact with the real world.
Even though being fun and visual helps, it is not always enough to succeed.
- Let the user be the centre of your solution
The point of this technology is to help the user by “augmenting” reality, so always put yourself in the user’s shoes. Regardless of what your AR solution is focused on, make sure you give the user control.
AR capabilities and details keep evolving and improving, and sometimes developers focus too much on the technical issues and forget about the UX. Think about the profile of the users and don’t forget to give them real interactivity between the real and virtual world.
- Set realistic expectations
When developing a new solution, you always want it to be perfect and satisfy all the users, but that level of perfection hardly ever happens. Your objectives when developing a solution (not just an AR one) should be challenging but also realistic. There is no magic tool that everyone is satisfied with.
If you are developing an AR solution focused on education, you should keep in mind that everyone has a personal learning pace and method, so be sure to use that information in your favour. One of AR advantages in the edtech field is that it enhances personalized learning, giving each student what they need.
- Simplify your content
One of AR biggest feature is that it is an extremely visual resource, it can help simplify the most abstract concepts, so don’t forget to keep your content simple and visual. The objective is to give the user a visual experience without making them think too much.
As a top AR developer, Seabery is applying the Augmented Reality technology in welding training, you can learn more about how AR is enhancing skills training here.
Sources:
http://www.information-age.com/education-augmented-reality-8-tips-getting-started-123458747/
https://medium.com/@RubyGarage/tips-on-how-to-build-augmented-reality-mobile-apps-7dbe858243d4
https://catchoom.com/blog/8-tips-for-successful-augmented-reality-marketing-campaigns/
http://branchcreativenetwork.com/2014663-tips-for-augmented-reality/
https://www.wikitude.com/blog-pitch-ar-next-project/
https://vrscout.com/news/brand-tips-mixed-augmented-reality/