Is AR/VR a metamorphosis for a UX designer?
How does a AR works?
In Augmented Reality, the computer uses sensors and algorithms to determine the position and orientation of a camera. AR technology then renders the 3D graphics as they would appear from the viewpoint of the camera, superimposing the computer-generated images over a user’s view of the real world.How does an VR works?
In Virtual Reality, the computer uses similar sensors and math. However, rather than locating a real camera within a physical environment, the position of the user’s eyes are located within the simulated environment. If the user’s head turns, the graphics react accordingly. Rather than compositing virtual objects and a real scene, VR technology creates a convincing, interactive world for the user.
In one of my class, we were assigned a task for user researching any issue. Me and my classmate decided to work on VR, where we asked users to launch any webVR application onto the web browser and surf via HTC Vive headsets. The research proved to be quite insightful. We recorded the user behavioral pattern and drew a rough draft that many struggled through the process of getting the task done.
Documenting the process, we both were intrigued, ’Hmmm…interesting!!!’
(*curious face emoticon*)
Studying the user pattern, we registered the pain points the users were experiencing throughout the process. While testing the task ourselves, we discovered diverse minor hiccups in the process. As a personal experience, I felt awesome exploring the virtual environment. Having multiple options in the VR made it a bit easy to investigate the system and document the loop holes.
Bad experiences can hurt VR, so which principles are necessary to avoid any hiccups in a VR user experience?
Believable: An experience within VR must be believable. That means feeling as though you’re actually there.
Interactive: VR must be interactive to work well so when you extend your arm, the VR world must replicate those movements.
Explorable: You must be able to walk (or fly…) around an environment.
Immersive: Mix together exploration and plausibility and you get immersive — enjoying the experience from any angle.
Apparently I didn’t have any opportunities to actually explore a detailed AR experience. Though my friend having an Iphone X helped me to study the features of one of the cutting edge technologies of this century!
(*Really proud of you guys working at Apple!*)
Researching the technology, I registered few pros (*Thumbs-up*):
Augmented reality gives the user real-time feedback.
Changing brand UX and conversion opportunities.
Making design more comprehensible.
Though, some challenges, which can be resolved of-course with updating technologies(*double Thumbs-up*):
Threats to privacy control, spam and unwanted advertising.
Internet dependency.
Rethinking UX design principles.
Watching the YouTube video of Microsoft: Holo-lens amazed me to my inner core (*chilled spine*). Those geniuses at Microsoft has really done some innovation to make life more exciting (*wink emoticon*). That recalled me the first Iron-man movie where Mr. Tony Stark puts on his first suit for his first flight, ‘Ohh man! That was super-awesome!’ (*whistles emoticon*).
I believe that a role of an UX designer is challenging with these kind of technologies updating ahead of its time. To develop empathy maps regarding the users needs and transforming them into real-time environment seems pretty exciting. Challenge accepted! (*Thumbs up*)
Referring the movie ‘Her’, how the technology will evolve in the future with AI’s supporting these virtual environments are intriguing. Even a brilliant set-up in the movie ‘Captain America: Civil War’, where Mr. Stark projects a manipulated memory of his own through AR system is also very fascinating.
But according to the book, ‘No interface is the best interface by Golden Krishna’, is it true that developing such technologies will eventually have negative impact on the users?
