# Blocks: Collaborative and Persistent Augmented Reality Experiences

## TL;DR

Blocks is a mobile app enabling persistent, collaborative AR structure creation in physical spaces, supporting both synchronous and asynchronous collaboration, with a focus on user preferences and design opportunities.

## Contribution

This work introduces a novel AR platform supporting persistent, location-based, and collaborative AR creation, with extensive user studies exploring collaboration dynamics.

## Key findings

- Participants preferred synchronous, colocated collaboration.
- Users were most active when structures were unrestricted by time or place.
- The study reveals new design opportunities for persistent collaborative AR experiences.

## Abstract

We introduce Blocks, a mobile application that enables people to co-create AR structures that persist in the physical environment. Using Blocks, end users can collaborate synchronously or asynchronously, whether they are colocated or remote. Additionally, the AR structures can be tied to a physical location or can be accessed from anywhere. We evaluated how people used Blocks through a series of lab and field deployment studies with over 160 participants, and explored the interplay between two collaborative dimensions: space and time. We found that participants preferred creating structures synchronously with colocated collaborators. Additionally, they were most active when they created structures that were not restricted by time or place. Unlike most of today's AR experiences, which focus on content consumption, this work outlines new design opportunities for persistent and collaborative AR experiences that empower anyone to collaborate and create AR content.