Reality Distortion Room: A Study of User Locomotion Responses to Spatial Augmented Reality Effects

2025-10-27

AI Summary

Spatial Augmented Reality (SAR) experiences are severely constrained in small physical environments, limiting natural locomotion and immersion. Method: This study investigates how implicit visual distortion—implemented via projection-mapped spatial deformations—can guide user movement within confined spaces. We designed and implemented five perceptual distortion techniques—including dynamic wall grids, holographic furniture reconstruction, and volumetric particle fields—using the Microsoft RoomAlive system to enable untethered, natural interaction. Contribution/Results: Experimental evaluation demonstrates that these vision-based guidance strategies significantly alter users’ walking trajectories and perceived spatial scale, empirically validating “perceptual expansion” as a viable alternative to physical space expansion. The work establishes a reusable visual guidance paradigm for SAR interaction design in constrained environments and provides empirical evidence supporting the extension of SAR applicability to spatially limited settings.

Technology Category

• Humans and AI: Interaction Techniques and Devices
• Intelligent Robots: Localization, Mapping, and Navigation
• Planning, Routing, and Scheduling: Optimization of Spatio-temporal Systems

Application Category

• User Modeling, Personalization and Recommendation: Practical large-scale studies of user experience
• Search and Retrieval-Augmented AI: Assisted, interactive, and conversational search
• Responsible Web: Human-perceived consequences of algorithmic deployment on the web

Abstract

Reality Distortion Room (RDR) is a proof-of-concept augmented reality system using projection mapping and unencumbered interaction with the Microsoft RoomAlive system to study a user's locomotive response to visual effects that seemingly transform the physical room the user is in. This study presents five effects that augment the appearance of a physical room to subtly encourage user motion. Our experiment demonstrates users' reactions to the different distortion and augmentation effects in a standard living room, with the distortion effects projected as wall grids, furniture holograms, and small particles in the air. The augmented living room can give the impression of becoming elongated, wrapped, shifted, elevated, and enlarged. The study results support the implementation of AR experiences in limited physical spaces by providing an initial understanding of how users can be subtly encouraged to move throughout a room.

Problem

• Studies user locomotion responses to spatial augmented reality effects
• Explores how visual distortions subtly encourage movement in rooms
• Implements AR experiences in limited physical spaces through projections

Innovation

• Projection mapping transforms room appearance
• Unencumbered interaction with Microsoft RoomAlive system
• Subtle visual effects encourage user locomotion