Iterative Prototyping of Urban CoBuilder: Tracking Methods and User Interface of an Outdoor Mobile Augmented Reality Tool for Co-Designing

Hyekyung Imottesjo, Liane Thuvander, Monica Billger, Peter Wallberg, Gustav Bodell, Jaan-Henrik Kain, Stig Anton Nielsen
2020 Multimodal Technologies and Interaction  
This research presents results from a study developing a smartphone app, UrbanCoBuilder, in which citizens can collaboratively create designs for urban environments usingaugmented reality technology and game mechanics. Eight prototypes were developed to refineselected design criteria, including tracking strategies, design elements, user experience and theinterface with game mechanics. The prototypes were developed through an iterative design processwith assessments and incremental improvements.
more » ... The tracking was especially challenging andusing multiple bitonal markers combined with the smartphone's gyroscope sensor to average theuser position was identified as the most suitable strategy. Still, portability and stability linked totracking need to be improved. Design elements, here building blocks with urban functions textures,were realistic enough to be recognizable and easy to understand for the users. Future studies willfocus on usability tests with larger user groups.
doi:10.3390/mti4020026 fatcat:y4xp7jb4gfaxpcsqohaky3gztu