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

You-Jin Kim, Andrew D Wilson, Jennifer Jacobs, and Tobias Höllerer:
Reality Distortion Room: A Study of User Locomotion Responses to Spatial Augmented Reality Effects. In: IEEE International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality, IEEE ISMAR 2023
Presented: IEEE ISMAR 2023 - [Navigation and Locomotion Session] October 18, 2023, Sydney, Australia 

▪️  DOI: 10.1109/ISMAR59233.2023.00137    ▪️  arXiv: 10.48550/arXiv.2510.23840

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.

Research Contributions

• Demonstrates that visual distortions predictably guide natural human movement without using explicit verbal or written prompts.

• Establishes a movement paradigm based on innate reactions to visual space rather than conscious instruction or camera manipulation.

• Proves AR can maximize utility in limited environments by virtually reconfiguring boundaries to encourage movement into specific zones.

• Provides empirical evidence of user behavior in SAR environments without the physical constraints or sensory isolation of headsets.

• Offers an AR alternative to VR Redirected Walking by manipulating perceived architecture instead of the user's camera view, to maximize limited physical space.

Citation IEEE Format

[1] Y-J. Kim, A. D. Wilson, J. Jacobs, and T. Höllerer, "Reality Distortion Room: A Study of User Locomotion Responses to Spatial Augmented Reality Effects," in 2023 IEEE International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality (ISMAR), 2023, pp. 1201-1210, doi: 10.1109/ISMAR59233.2023.00137. (10 Pages)

Citation APA Format

Kim, Y-J., Wilson, A. D., Jacobs, J., & Höllerer, T. (2023). Reality distortion room: A study of user locomotion responses to spatial augmented reality effects. 2023 IEEE International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality (ISMAR), 1201–1210. https://doi.org/10.1109/ISMAR59233.2023.00137. (10 Pages)