AR in Relation to Productivity

The Extended Reality Technology Center is founded on the idea of advancing immersive technology and research to redefine how we engage with the digital world. Until now, most studies have investigated the impact, opportunities, and challenges of working in AR in controlled settings. It is unclear, however, how users interact with AR systems over prolonged periods of time in an ecologically-valid setting. To overcome this challenge, a team from the Augmented Perception Lab at Carnegie Mellon University, led by David Lindlbauer, recently began to explore the application of Augmented Reality (AR) for productivity, aiming to better understand how AR can affect productivity in the workplace.

The team used Sightful's Spacetop EA, an AR laptop that replaces a traditional screen with AR glasses, to explore several key considerations related to the prolonged use of AR technology. Participants utilized the device in their daily activities over a two-week period to gain experience with AR-based work. The team analyzed usage patterns, workspace configurations, and changes in user perceptions through survey responses.

This analysis has uncovered several factors that affect how users interact with augmented reality, such as the requirements of the tasks they're doing, limitations of the environment, social influences, and comfort issues. Participants liked that the AR laptop was portable and could create personalized workspaces, making it easy to switch between different locations. The device's privacy features allowed users to work in different places without worrying about others seeing sensitive information. In addition to these benefits, the study also discusses some challenges, while also looking at ways to innovate how people interact with the technology. The team discovered new methods for using multiple devices together such as using the AR laptop alongside regular tools like laptops and smartphones, showing that there's significant potential for finding additional ways to increase productivity in the workplace.