Two Explorative Studies on Tangible Augmented Reality for Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Tangible Augmented Reality (TAR) is an interaction paradigm that integrates physical and digital worlds to create immersive, interactive experiences. This paper explores two TAR applications—Holomarket and Along the Oceanic Flow (ATOF)—and presents insights from two exploratory studies evaluating their usability and likeability among individuals with NDD. Holomarket is designed to simulate a supermarket shopping experience, helping users develop essential life skills such as item selection, basic arithmetic, and money handling. Participants interacted with augmented food items and a smart cash register, navigating a virtual supermarket environment. While participants enjoyed the realistic setting and tangible interactions, some usability challenges, such as difficulty manipulating virtual objects and discomfort with prolonged headset use, were noted. ATOF transforms the user’s environment into an oceanic world, where participants use a dolphin-shaped Smart Object to complete tasks like collecting items and solving puzzles. This application aims to improve motor coordination and cognitive skills. Participants appreciated the immersive experience, the customizable tasks, and the tangible dolphin interface. However, some faced difficulties interacting with specific virtual elements. Overall, both applications demonstrated potential as therapeutic tools for NDD, offering engaging, immersive experiences. Despite some usability challenges and hardware limitations, the positive feedback suggests TAR could play a crucial role in future therapeutic interventions. However, further research is needed to refine these applications and enhance user interaction and comfort.