AR.S.Space: An AR Casual Game for Social Engagement in Work Environments

TL;DR

AR.S.Space is an augmented reality social game designed for HMDs to improve social interactions and engagement in work environments, demonstrating potential benefits through user studies.

Contribution

The paper introduces a novel AR HMD-based social game specifically aimed at facilitating socialization in work settings, with empirical evaluation and design guidelines.

Findings

Enhances socialization in small-scale environments

Reduces social unease during initial interactions

Provides design guidelines for future AR social games

Abstract

In social situations, individuals often encounter communication challenges, particularly when adapting to new environments. While some studies have acknowledged the potential of AR social games to aid in effective socialization to some extent, little attention has been given to AR HMD-based games specifically designed to facilitate social interactions. In response, we propose AR.S.Space, an AR HMD-based social game that employs augmented reality features to engage users with virtual social agents through asynchronous communication. The game aims to mitigate the unease associated with initial social interactions and foster long-term connections. To assess its efficacy, a user study was conducted within a specific scenario (an office space), gathering quantitative data and qualitative feedback through questionnaires and interviews. The findings highlight the game's potential to enhance socialization in small-scale environments. Moreover, the study offers valuable design guidelines for future research and the application of AR social games in similar settings.