Abstract

Augmented reality has a potential for new contextual discoveries for users. What can you discover with AR that you are unaware of? As a new technology, users do not always know what to expect and how to interact with it. These thoughts and questions brought me to the question: How might we increase access and accessibility to geolocation based AR experiences? Creating a tool that enables users to discover and learn about geolocation-based AR experiences can increase access and accessibility, promoting greater engagement and interest in this emerging technology. This tool was designed to be a QR code scanner that previews information about the AR experience tied to the QR code and developed into a website that helps users search for AR experiences to become aware of them. As a result of making this prototype of the tool. User are able to get a sense of what types of AR are out there and what they can and should be understanding or looking for when engaging with augmented or extended reality.

Research

My research started with my own knowledge of XR, what is augmented reality and virtual reality to myself to other people? This started my hopes for the technology in the future. This boiled down into what is the closest here and now? What fascinates me and I see lots of possibilities? I came to the technology of geolocated based augmented reality with its potential to be used with site specific context and how it might be delightful to interact with. This lead me to understand what might someone need to know before trying such AR experiences. How do users enter these experiences? What technically can I tap into? My research continued into coming up with the idea of using QR codes. AR experience tend to be shared via  QR codes scanned by mobile devices. How could someone preview this information before trying the experience? What could they do to feel safe before opening the site?

Technical Details

This project started as an idea and developed through the double diamond design thinking process. As I started prototyping, from Figma to 8th wall I iterated on the design and created a slightly different technical tactic. Since my project was going to be web-based for the easiest access to all users,  I used javascript, some specific libraries, servers, a REST API, and lots of support from the coding lab. Iteration 1:  Create a QR code with a JSON string of specific AR experiences. Iteration 2: Create a REST API and a "database"( JSON file to act as a database) and have the QR code fetch the information instead of directly placing the information in the QR code. Iteration 3: Create a website for users to search from the database's list of AR experience. This website also encapsulated the previous iteration and made it a scan feature. On the website, I used Figma to design the layout translating it to HTML, CSS, and JS. I created gifs and other content with adobe suite and figma.