How Children Collaborate within Programmable AR Environments with Co-Located Collaborative Features

2026-08-11

AI Summary

This study addresses the lack of empirical investigation into children’s co-located collaborative behaviors in programmable augmented reality (AR). Building upon the existing Capybara platform for children’s AR programming, the work introduces multi-device shared state, synchronized interaction, and spatial anchoring mechanisms to enable cross-device collaborative programming. Through a workshop involving nine children, the research uncovers three emergent patterns of lightweight, implicit collaboration: socially aware parallel play, iterative remixing, and spontaneous peer support. These findings not only validate the effectiveness of the proposed collaborative mechanisms but also offer novel theoretical insights and practical design principles for developing child-centered AR systems.

Abstract

Programmable augmented reality (AR) environments are emerging as a promising way to support children's creative learning through embodied interaction with digital characters and physical space. At the same time, AR systems are increasingly capable of supporting co-located collaborative experiences. However, little is known about how children collaborate within programmable AR environments offering co-located collaborative features. In response, we extended Capybara, an existing programmable AR application for children, with co-located collaborative features supporting shared visibility and interaction across devices. We then conducted workshops with 9 children to examine whether and how collaboration emerges during use. Across our workshops, collaboration was often lightweight and implicit, emerging through three complementary forms: parallel play with social awareness, iterative remixing, and spontaneous peer support. Together, our findings provide insights for designing future child-centered programmable AR systems that better support co-located collaborative experiences.

Problem

• programmable AR
• co-located collaboration
• children
• collaborative interaction
• embodied learning

Innovation

• programmable AR
• co-located collaboration
• shared visibility
• embodied interaction
• child-centered design