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Usability Evaluation of Augmented Reality: A Neuro-Information-Systems Study
Published on: November 30, 2022
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Effects of visual information presented by augmented reality on children's behavior
Nobu Shirai1, Lisa Kondo2, Tomoko Imura3
1Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, Niigata University, 2-8050 Ikarashi Nishi-Ku, Niigata, 950-2181, Japan. shirai@human.niigata-u.ac.jp.
Scientific Reports
|April 24, 2020
Summary
Augmented reality (AR) characters influenced children's pathway choices, with young children avoiding paths with AR figures. Adults showed no such bias, suggesting developmental differences in AR perception.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Augmented reality (AR) technology presents virtual information overlaid on the real world.
- Understanding how AR influences behavior, especially in children, is crucial for designing safe and effective applications.
- Previous research has explored children's perception of virtual agents, but AR-specific behavioral impacts require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the behavioral effects of augmented reality (AR) characters on children.
- To compare behavioral responses to AR stimuli between children and adults.
- To explore developmental differences in sensitivity to virtual agents presented via AR.
Main Methods:
- Children (5-7 and 8-10 years old) and adults were exposed to a human-like AR character in one of two physical pathways.
- Participants completed a filler task, then chose a pathway to receive a reward.
- Pathway selection in relation to the AR character's location was recorded and analyzed.
Main Results:
- Both age groups of children (5-7 and 8-10 years) significantly preferred the pathway not associated with the AR character.
- Adult participants did not show a significant bias in pathway selection.
- The presence of an AR character demonstrably affected the behavior of children aged 5-10 years.
Conclusions:
- Children's behavior is significantly influenced by AR characters, unlike adults, indicating developmental sensitivity to virtual agents.
- Findings suggest that children perceive AR information differently than adults, potentially due to developmental factors like sensitivity to "insubstantial agents."
- The study highlights the need to consider AR presentation methods and developmental stages when evaluating its impact on user behavior.
