Augmented RealitySome Psychological and Social Aspects

What is Augmented Reality (AR)?

A user experience of mediated-reality with the following characteristics:

It is based on a realtime experience of a physical real-world situation.

Within the realtime experience, computer-generated sense stimulation is given to the user which adds information to the physical real-world situation.

This technology enhances the user’s perception of reality, hence the name Augmented Reality.

Example ImagesJaguar Concept Windshield

Example ImagesSwivel by FaceCake

Field Trip on Google Glass

Examples

Tech Notes

As we have seen in the examples, AR utilizes many of the common technologies found in smart devices:

Geolocation

Realtime Video

Internet Access

AR combines these to provide real-time data experiences for users.

Psychological AspectsWhile few studies have been done on AR, many psychologists say it “shows great promise for use in therapeutic settings.”

This is because “AR is attention-grabbing, compelling, persuasive, and immersive.”

Dr. Shane Pase of the Society of Media Psychology and Technology sees it as important in the treatment of phobias:

“Imagine being able to expose a patient with arachnophobia to augmented reality spiders while having full control over the size, shape, color, and movement of the realistic 3D creatures. Imagine being able to have the patient interact with these virtual spiders going as far has having the ability to manipulate their movement and even pick them up, virtually of course! ”

Imagined Phobia Treatments

Educational Use

The system requires professors to wear augmented reality glasses in order to see virtual responses to the class activity above students’ heads.

Students activate the responses by mobile phone, allowing them to indicate whether they are following the classroom activity.

Researchers at Universidad Carlos III (Madrid) developed a system for augmented reality glasses that allows professors to observe their students’ understanding in realtime.

Social Aspects

AR, unlike the older VR technology, does not remove the sensory stimulation of the physical real-world situation.

It does not intend to isolate the user in a virtual, alternative, reality, but to enhance the user’s real-world situation.

It can help to expand the therapeutic methods for people who have difficulty negotiating relationships with the social aspects of the real-world.

Social Aspects

Autism is one area of such research. As Bill Ash and Kathryn Bennett write in the IEEE Standards Association website:

“In autism research, scientists are exploring how augmented reality could be harnessed for their particular uses. Might there be looming in the future of this nascent, mind-blowing technology a new, break-through capability for helping enhance the ability of autistic people to communicate and socialize? Researchers are looking at questions such as whether handheld devices could adapt augmented reality to help children learn to better interact and engage with others. Could augmented reality be used to help autistic people more calmly interpret information about their environment so as to better integrate with the world around them?”

References

Ash , Bill and Kathryn Bennett, “Autism, Augmented Reality and the Frontiers of Technology Innovation.” IEEE Standards Association 04/30/2014. http://standardsinsight.com/ieee_company_detail/autism-augmented-reality-and-the-frontiers-of-technology-innovation

Augmented Reality, http://mashable.com/category/augmented-reality/

Pase, S. Augmented Reality: Future Technology Here Today. http://www.apa.org/divisions/div46/pase_interview.html

Pase, S. Ethical Considerations in Augmented Reality Applications. EEE International Journal, 1, 38-45. (2012)

Rutledge, P. Augmented Reality: Brain Based Persuasion Model. EEE International Journal, 1, 45-57. (2012).