A User-Oriented Approach to Space-Adaptive Augmentation: The Effects of Spatial Affordance on Narrative Experience in an Augmented Reality Detective Game

Title of the Paper

"A User-Oriented Approach to Space-Adaptive Augmentation: The Effects of Spatial Affordance on Narrative Experience in an Augmented Reality Detective Game"

Paper Information

• Subject Area: Augmented Reality (AR), Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)
• Keywords: augmented reality, head-mounted display, space adaptability, spatial mapping, spatial affordance, narrative experience, storytelling

Research Background and Problem Statement

• Problem Statement:

  • Current space-adaptive algorithms primarily focus on leveraging the geometric properties of real-world spaces to enhance immersive user experiences in augmented reality (AR).
  • However, existing research lacks an in-depth analysis of spatial characteristics from the user's perspective and does not adequately consider how to design adaptive augmented spaces based on users' spatial perception.

• Significance:

  • Enhancing the spatial adaptability of narrative-driven AR content enables consistent immersive experiences across different physical environments.
  • Understanding spatial affordances (e.g., navigability and visibility) and their impact on user movement behavior and narrative perception can drive the optimization of AR narrative design.

• Motivation and Related Work:

  • Previous studies have shown that variations in space size and density significantly affect AR narrative experiences, but the specific mechanisms by which spatial affordances influence user behavior and perception remain underexplored.
  • The authors propose to extend the scope of existing research by examining the relationship between spatial factors related to user movement and vision and their impact on AR narrative experiences.

Solution

• Proposed Approach:

  • An experimental framework based on user behavior was designed to investigate the effects of spatial affordances on user experience by controlling physical space characteristics (size and furniture layout).
  • The test scenario utilized the space-adaptive AR game "Fragments" on Microsoft HoloLens, with the environment divided into six conditions: two space sizes (large/small) and three furniture layouts (peripheral, scattered, centralized).

• Innovations:

  • Unlike previous studies, this research systematically analyzes detailed dimensions of spatial affordances (e.g., navigability and visibility) from the perspective of user movement behavior and visual perception.
  • A quantitative method was proposed to explore the potential relationship between spatial affordances and narrative engagement.

• Implementation Steps:

  1. Experimental Design:
     • Six experimental conditions were created, controlling room size (15.36 square meters vs. 10.14 square meters) and furniture layout.
     • Test variables included presence, narrative engagement, usability, enjoyment, task load, and task completion time.
  2. Data Collection:
     • Head-mounted displays, trackers, and cameras were used to record participants' movement data and field-of-view behavior.
     • Subjective data were collected using Likert scales and NASA-TLX.
  3. Analysis Methods:
     • Non-parametric statistical methods (ART, Aligned Rank Transform) were employed to analyze main and interaction effects.
  4. Semi-Structured Interviews:
     • Qualitative feedback on spatial perception and gameplay processes was collected from users.

Research Findings

• Specific Findings:

  1. Presence:
     • Participants reported significantly higher presence under the large-space centralized furniture condition (Large-Centered).
  2. Narrative Engagement:
     • Centralized furniture layouts (Centered) resulted in lower narrative engagement, particularly in smaller spaces (Small-Centered), where restricted visibility further reduced narrative coherence.
  3. Usability:
     • Larger rooms significantly improved usability, though the effect of furniture layout was less pronounced.
  4. Enjoyment and Task Load:
     • Task load and enjoyment were not significantly affected by room size or furniture layout across all conditions.
  5. User Behavior Analysis:
     • Users exhibited greater movement range in larger rooms, but centralized furniture layouts restricted free movement paths.
     • Certain "blind spots" (e.g., behind furniture and corner areas) that were difficult to see or access reduced the overall sense of spatial integration.

• Comparison with Existing Solutions:

  • The authors' experiments revealed blind spots in existing adaptive spatial designs, such as the need to adjust virtual element layouts to avoid user blind spots.
  • The paper highlighted a "trade-off effect" between visibility and navigability: some complex layouts may enhance presence but undermine narrative engagement.

• Experimental or Evaluation Results:

  • Data indicated that larger spaces promoted overall user activity levels, but complex furniture arrangements could compromise narrative coherence.
  • Qualitative information from semi-structured interviews complemented quantitative results, revealing users' perception issues regarding mismatches between virtual and physical spaces.

• Limitations and Future Directions:

  • Due to the experimental framework, the study only examined spatial affordances in single-player games; future research should extend to multi-user collaborative AR content.
  • Participants with limited AR experience may have influenced evaluations of spatial adaptability; future studies should include more experienced users.
  • Optimizing virtual spaces based on spatial semantics (e.g., the function of furniture) is a key direction for future design.

Output Format Description

This paper provides theoretical foundations and practical references for user experience-oriented optimization of space-adaptive algorithms, offering highly relevant insights into the practical design of narrative-driven AR games.