UI Placement as a Critical Design Factor for Augmented Reality During Locomotion

2026-04-07

AI Summary

Existing research on augmented reality (AR) interaction often overlooks the critical impact of interface placement on user performance in dynamic contexts such as walking. This work proposes that the spatial relationship between the user and the interface—referred to as UI placement—serves as a central mediating variable influencing mobile AR interaction efficacy and should be systematically investigated as an independent design dimension. Grounded in human-computer interaction theory, the study employs experimental methods to analyze how relative motion between users and interfaces affects interaction outcomes. Moving beyond conventional anchor-centric perspectives, it establishes UI placement as a key research variable for the first time and advocates for interaction techniques tailored to specific placement strategies. The findings offer a novel paradigm and research direction for designing efficient wearable AR interactions in dynamic environments.

Abstract

Wearable augmented reality (AR) represents the next interface to all things computing, extending what smartphones and laptops can do. This involves providing access to digital information during activities like walking or jogging. In this work we argue that the impact of physical movement on AR interaction is not direct, but mediated by UI placement - the spatial relationship between the user and the interface. Current research often treats interaction techniques in isolation, overlooking how their performance is fundamentally linked to where the UI is placed. This position paper highlights the need to reconceptualize UI placement beyond traditional anchoring views, explore novel interaction techniques designed for specific UI placements during locomotion, and rigorously evaluate UI placement as an independent variable in experimental studies. By centering the analysis on the relative movement between user and interface, we can unlock more effective on-the-go AR interaction.

Problem

• UI placement
• augmented reality
• locomotion
• interaction techniques
• wearable AR

Innovation

• UI placement
• augmented reality
• locomotion
• interaction techniques
• relative movement