Creating Medium-Fidelity Prototypes for AR/VR Experiences
TL;DR: Prototyping in 3D isn’t the same as in just two dimensions. Compared to regular, flat websites, augmented and virtual reality have very different requirements when it comes to creating prototypes. To close a gap in the medium-fidelity range of AR/VR prototyping methods, we’ve created 360theater, which makes use of dioramas and 360° content for creating physical-digital prototypes. We’ve used our new method in workshops with design students and found that it comes close to the final experience while complementing other methods with different levels of fidelity.
Originally published on 2008 ‒ Tales of Design & User Experience.
When I reflect on my time at the Michigan Information Interaction Lab, where I worked with Prof. Michael Nebeling, a lot of great projects (and more importantly: great people) come to mind. From GestureWiz to What is Mixed Reality? (internal codename: WTF-MR) to MRAT — we’ve done a lot of very exciting and innovative research. However, if I had to choose my one favorite project from that time, a different one stands out. It’s none of the CHI papers and none of those that have been cited the most. Instead, it’s the one that took the longest to be published. Michael presented it at this year’s EICS conference: 360theater.
