Elucidating the Effects of Augmented Reality Head-Worn Display Factors on Performance, Trust, and Behavior

Area of Science:

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality
• Spatial Cognition

Background:

• Augmented reality (AR) display characteristics can significantly impact user spatial abilities and task performance.
• Previous research on display factors is limited by user compensatory behaviors and difficulties in isolating display effects.
• Understanding the interplay between display factors, user behavior, trust, and performance is crucial for AR system design.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between AR display factors (field of view, visual contrast) and objective task performance.
• To examine how user behaviors (AR-Only, AR-First, Real-First, Real-Only) influence reliance and trust in AR systems.
• To elucidate the interrelations between display characteristics, user behavior, and subjective assessments of trust and reliance.

Main Methods:

• Conducted two within-subjects experiments with 20 participants each in a hybrid CAVE-like and head-worn display setup.
• Evaluated three fields of view (43°, 93°, 143°) and three visual contrasts (0.05, 0.25, 0.5) during a 360° search-and-selection task.
• Controlled for four distinct user behaviors to isolate the effects of display factors on performance and trust.

Main Results:

• Objective and subjective benefits were observed with larger fields of view and higher visual contrast in AR displays.
• Controlled behaviors demonstrated a clear link to users' subjective reliance and trust in the AR system.
• Larger fields of view and increased visual contrast led to improved objective task performance.

Conclusions:

• AR display factors like field of view and visual contrast have a demonstrable impact on objective user performance.
• Controlling for user behavior is essential for accurately assessing the effects of AR display characteristics.
• Understanding user reliance and trust, influenced by behavior and display factors, is vital for effective AR system development and deployment.