Augmented Reality and Older Adults: A Comparison of Prompting Types

Title of the Paper

Augmented Reality and Older Adults: A Comparison of Prompting Types

Paper Information

• Subject Area: Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and the application of Augmented Reality (AR) technology in assisting older adults
• Keywords: Augmented Reality, Prompting Tools, Older Adults, Task Prompts, Cognitive Support

Research Background and Problem

• Problem or Challenge:

  • Older adults may experience reduced independence in daily life due to physical and cognitive decline.
  • While AR has been applied in industrial task guidance, its use in providing AR prompts to support older adults in Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) within home settings has not been fully explored.
  • AR technology designed specifically for older adults is often overlooked, necessitating further research to understand the needs and interaction characteristics of this user group.

• Significance:

  • With global population aging, it is crucial to explore how advanced technologies like AR can provide effective task prompting support for older adults, enhancing their ability to live independently and reducing caregiving demands.

• Research Motivation and Related Work:

  • Existing non-AR prompting technologies have demonstrated effective support for older adults, but research on visual AR prompts remains in its infancy.
  • Prompting tools include voice, text, images, and videos, with studies showing that voice and text prompts are the most effective.
  • AR research in industrial contexts has shown its ability to reduce errors and improve task completion efficiency, but there is a lack of evaluation of AR prompts in non-industrial, home settings, especially among older populations.

Solution

• Proposed Method or Solution:

  • Conduct experiments to compare the effectiveness of five action types (“pick up,” “put down,” “move,” “open,” “close”) with four types of visual AR prompts (arrows, object models, highlights, virtual hand) and a control condition (AUDIO+TEXT).
  • Design an experimental environment, including specific 3D-printed objects and a prompt development system, to evaluate the applicability of different prompt types through quantitative data analysis.

• Innovations:

  • Provides the first comparative study of visual AR prompts for older adults, focusing on task prompts in non-industrial settings.
  • Investigates whether the effectiveness of prompts varies by action type.
  • Defines multiple key evaluation metrics, including task completion rate, completion time, prompt repetition count, user confidence, and user preferences.

• Implementation Steps and Key Techniques:

  1. Action Definition and Selection:
     • Select five basic actions based on the Action Coding System (ACS), applicable to daily living contexts.
  2. Prompt Development:
     • Develop visual prompts using Unity and Vuforia, including arrows, object models, transparent highlights, and virtual hand animations.
  3. Experimental Design:
     • Use a balanced Latin square design to randomize and balance prompt types and action sequences.
     • Combine questionnaires and video recordings to gather quantitative metrics.

Research Findings

• Specific Results:

  • Task Completion Rate: AR prompts using “object models” and “virtual hands” achieved higher completion rates, comparable to the control condition (AUDIO+TEXT), with rates exceeding 90%, while “arrows” and “highlights” had lower completion rates.
  • Completion Time and Prompt Repetition Count: “Arrows” and “highlights” required more time and prompt repetitions, as participants found these prompts more difficult to understand.
  • User Confidence and Preferences: Virtual hand prompts performed best in terms of clarity and user acceptance. Although participants felt more confident with voice+text prompts, virtual hands were considered more intuitive and easier to understand.

• Comparison with Existing Solutions and Advantages:

  • Prompting methods do not rely on text or voice, reducing cognitive load for older users.
  • Compared to industrial contexts, this study focuses on home environments and daily activities, offering a unique perspective on designing AR technology for older adults.

• Limitations and Future Directions:

  • Limitations:
    • The experimental setting was fixed and did not involve complex tasks or multi-step activities in real home scenarios.
    • Did not explore hybrid prompts (e.g., combining highlights and arrows).
    • Did not cover AR experiences for individuals with cognitive impairments.
  • Future Work:
    • Extend to multi-step tasks, such as the complete process of “making tea.”
    • Explore integration with other prompting technologies (e.g., voice or haptic prompts).
    • Evaluate prompt effectiveness in more complex home environments.

This study highlights the design potential of visual AR prompts in supporting older adults’ daily activities, laying the foundation for developing task prompting technologies tailored to individuals with cognitive impairments.