Investigating the effects of publishing approaches using print, electronic and augmented reality media on user experience

Abstract

To evaluate the potential role of modern augmented reality (AR) technology in publishing and its usefulness for interactive print, we conducted a study where we investigated the influence of different methods of presenting content on the users’ story reading experience. The stories were produced in print and electronic media, with and without augmented reality component, using a multi-media setup consisting of a computer with the monitor display, a smartphone, and a printed material. A 2 × 2 within-subjects experimental design was implemented (2 levels of medium: print and electronic; and 2 levels of augmentation with video clips: yes or no), wherein 32 participants aged 18–29 years old were asked to read short stories produced with different publishing methods and evaluate their preferences for the presentation of the content, as well as interestingness, comprehension and overall experience with the stories on a 7 point scale using a questionnaire. AR and the medium–AR interaction were found to be significant in determining the preference for the publishing method. The paper–AR combination had the highest score among all the methods and was rated statistically different from the paper only version, which, in turn, had the lowest score. For the overal expeirence ratings a significant medium-AR interaction was observed, with the trend, similar to the publishing preference ratings. Overall experience was linked to the users’ preference ratings for the publishing methods, interestingness and enjoyment of the stories, and the ease of understanding the story line. The results indicate that AR enhances user experience, particularly with print media, making it on par or even higher valued than commonly used electronic media. In contrast, the traditional print version without augmentation was least preferred.