You're making things AR-kward: Exploring Augmented Reality In-the-WildEven though recent technological advancements have led to a growing interest in AR HMD, their actual deployment in everyday, outdoor and on-the-move applications remains uncertain. Most AR research is conducted in controlled laboratory settings, leaving a gap in our understanding of AR's potentials and complexities in real-world environments. This paper explores the social aspects surrounding AR use in public spaces, by investigating the use of AR HMD during two distinct use cases: shopping at a farmers market and outdoor presentations. Based on the analysis of observations and interviews with participants, passersby and vendors, we explore social impact of AR and share methodological and technological insights. We contribute seven lessons learned for researchers conducting AR studies in-the-wild. Our findings show that the current understanding of non-users should be revisited for in-the-wild AR studies. Furthermore, current AR HMD lack social components, inducing awkwardness in social situations, which might fade with continuous exposure.2025HSHelen Stefanidi et al.AR Navigation & Context AwarenessImmersion & Presence ResearchSocial Platform Design & User BehaviorMobileHCI
Interacting Like a Girl: Considering Body Comportment in the Design of Embodied InteractionsRecently, design research has embraced more-than-human perspectives to explore the complex entanglements of our world, decentering the human subject and eliminating dualistic thinking. Despite these advances, further progress is needed to develop a future that equally considers all beings. This paper examines the impact of body comportment on the design of embodied, interactive technologies. Drawing on Iris Marion Young's essay, we argue that the assumption of a universal body standard can lead to a disconnect between a person’s intentions and their interactions with technology. We relate three modalities of body comportment---ambiguous transcendence, inhibited intentionality, and discontinuous unity---to embodied interaction. These modalities offer a perspective on how embodied being-in-the-world extends beyond physical capabilities, facilitating a pluralist view of the human body. We discuss the implications of Young's essay for research and design, reflecting on how the designer’s own 'feminine existence' may influence the spatial scope of embodied interactions.2025DSDorothé Smit et al.Full-Body Interaction & Embodied InputGender & Race Issues in HCIHuman-Nature Relationships (More-than-Human Design)DIS
Augmented Reality on the Move: A Systematic Literature Review for Vulnerable Road UsersDue to the continuous improvement of Augmented Reality (AR) head-mounted displays (HMDs), these devices are bound to be increasingly integrated into our daily routines. So far, a major focus of AR research has been on indoor usage and deployment. However, since seamlessly supporting users in their activities while being on-the-move in various outdoor contexts becomes increasingly important, there is a need to investigate the current state-of-the-art of AR technologies while people are in motion outdoors. Therefore, we conducted a systematic literature review of pertinent HCI publications, specifically looking into applications concerning vulnerable road users. We identify the contexts in which such technologies have been researched, prevailing challenges in the field, and applied methodological approaches. Our findings show that most contributions address pedestrians, a shift towards HMDs, and a prevalence of lab studies due to technology limitations. Based on our findings, we discuss trends, existing gaps and opportunities for future research.2024HSHelen Stefanidi et al.External HMI (eHMI) — Communication with Pedestrians & CyclistsAR Navigation & Context AwarenessMobileHCI
Eye-Perspective View Management for Optical See-Through Head-Mounted DisplaysOptical see-through (OST) head-mounted displays (HMDs) enable users to experience Augmented Reality (AR) support in the form of helpful real-world annotations. Unfortunately, the blend of the environment with virtual augmentations due to semitransparent OST displays often deteriorates the contrast and legibility of annotations. View management algorithms adapt the annotations' layout to improve legibility based on real-world information, typically captured by built-in HMD cameras. However, the camera views are different from the user's view through the OST display which decreases the final layout quality. We present eye-perspective view management that synthesizes high-fidelity renderings of the user’s view to optimize annotation placement. Our method significantly improves over traditional camera-based view management in terms of annotation placement and legibility. Eye-perspective optimizations open up opportunities for further research on use cases relying on the user's true view through OST HMDs.2023GEGerlinde Emsenhuber et al.Salzburg University of Applied SciencesAR Navigation & Context AwarenessCHI
Good Day Manager! Exploring Social Relationships In NFT-based Play-to-Earn GamesPlay-to-Earn (P2E) crypto-games recently emerged as a gig opportunity despite the absence of regulations. As these platforms continue to grow, there is a need to understand the interactions involved to protect vulnerable stakeholders. This paper describes how an unintended social dynamic became a strategy guiding players to navigate an unregulated space. First, we inquired through surveys ($N=69$) and interviews ($N=9$) to understand stakeholder motivations and practices in this space. Second, we analyzed data and then conceptualized eight themes (e.g., Management, Social, Gaming). Then, we uncovered four types of relationships (e.g., Manager-Scholar, Manager-Investor-Scholar, Coach-Mentee, Scholar-Turned-Manager) that shaped the behaviours of the different users on the platform. Lastly, we present design implications and recommendations to guide the design of P2E crypto games and the gig-focused communities that thrive around them. Our results contribute to ongoing discussions in designing digital gig economies and crypto-based games.2023RPRichard Lance Parayno et al.Paris-Lodron University of Salzburg, Salzburg University of Applied SciencesLive Streaming & Content CreatorsGig Economy PlatformsCHI
AirRes Mask: A Precise and Robust Virtual Reality Breathing Interface Utilizing Breathing Resistance as Output ModalityIncreased levels of interactivity and multi-sensory stimulation have been shown to enhance the immersion of Virtual Reality experiences. We present the AirRes mask that enables users to utilize their breathing for precise natural interactions with the virtual environment without suffering from limitations of the sensing equipment such as motion artifacts. Furthermore, the AirRes mask provides breathing resistance as novel output modality that can be adjusted in real-time by the application. In a user study, we demonstrate the mask's precision measurements for interaction as well as its ability to use breathing resistance to communicate contextual information such as adverse environmental conditions that affect the user’s virtual avatar. Our results show that the AirRes mask enhances virtual experiences and has the potential to create more immersive scenarios for applications by enforcing the perception of danger or improving situational awareness in training simulations, or for psychotherapy by providing additional physical stimuli.2022MTMarkus Tatzgern et al.Salzburg University of Applied SciencesFull-Body Interaction & Embodied InputImmersion & Presence ResearchBiosensors & Physiological MonitoringCHI
TrackCap: Enabling Smartphones for 3D Interaction on Mobile Head-Mounted DisplaysThe latest generation of consumer market Head-mounted displays (HMD) now include self-contained inside-out tracking of head motions, which makes them suitable for mobile applications. However, 3D tracking of input devices is either not included at all or requires to keep the device in sight, so that it can be observed from a sensor mounted on the HMD. Both approaches make natural interactions cumbersome in mobile applications. TrackCap, a novel approach for 3D tracking of input devices, turns a conventional smartphone into a precise 6DOF input device for an HMD user. The device can be conveniently operated both inside and outside the HMD's field of view, while it provides additional 2D input and output capabilities.2019PMPeter Mohr et al.Graz University of Technology & VRVis Zentrum für Virtual Reality und Visualisierung Forschungs-GmbHHand Gesture RecognitionMixed Reality WorkspacesCHI