Iterative Prototyping of Urban CoBuilder: Tracking Methods and User Interface of an Outdoor Mobile Augmented Reality Tool for Co‐Designing

Artikel i vetenskaplig tidskrift, 2020

This research presents results from a study developing a smartphone app, Urban
CoBuilder, in which citizens can collaboratively create designs for urban environments using
augmented reality technology and game mechanics. Eight prototypes were developed to refine
selected design criteria, including tracking strategies, design elements, user experience and the
interface with game mechanics. The prototypes were developed through an iterative design process
with assessments and incremental improvements. The tracking was especially challenging and
using multiple bitonal markers combined with the smartphone’s gyroscope sensor to average the
user position was identified as the most suitable strategy. Still, portability and stability linked to
tracking need to be improved. Design elements, here building blocks with urban functions textures,
were realistic enough to be recognizable and easy to understand for the users. Future studies will
focus on usability tests with larger user groups.