Location-based AR for Social Justice: Case Studies, Lessons, and Open Challenges

TL;DR

This paper examines two location-based AR projects at controversial US monument sites, highlighting their design, impact, and lessons learned to inform future AR work in contested spaces.

Contribution

It provides case studies of AR in social justice contexts, analyzing how physical site changes influence project outcomes and offering insights for future location-based AR applications.

Findings

Physical site changes significantly affected project outcomes.

AR can effectively visualize and influence physical spaces.

Lessons learned can guide future AR projects in contested environments.

Abstract

Dear Visitor and Charleston Reconstructed were location-based augmented reality (AR) experiences created between 2018 and 2020 dealing with two controversial monument sites in the US. The projects were motivated by the ability of AR to 1) link layers of context to physical sites in ways that are otherwise difficult or impossible and 2) to visualize changes to physical spaces, potentially inspiring changes to the spaces themselves. We discuss the projects' motivations, designs, and deployments. We reflect on how physical changes to the projects' respective sites radically altered their outcomes, and we describe lessons for future work in location-based AR, particularly for projects in contested spaces.