Browsing by Subject "User Experience Evaluation"

This thesis explores the integration of Augmented Reality (AR) into social media platforms, taking Snapchat's AR as a case study. Design science research methodology is used as a research method. The primary question addressed is how augmented reality enhances user interaction and engagement in social media. The second research question is about challenges and considerations in integrating AR into social media platforms. An artifact including a series of AR features is developed by utilizing Lens Studio. User interaction features such as 3D object manipulation, distance-opacity mapping and camera interaction transformations are expected to bring immersive AR experience to users. The combination of AR and cloud-based technologies for location-based AR, data management and multi-user scenarios is also discussed. A structured experiment is conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of AR features in enhancing user engagement. The developed AR features are distributed to participants to experience via Snapchat QR codes then they provid feedback through a detailed questionnaire. The evaluation focused on metrics such as time spent, interaction frequency, depth of interaction, and technical performance, revealing significant insights into both user engagement and technical challenges. The findings confirm that AR significantly increases user engagement, with a majority of participants willing to spend more time and interact more frequently with Snapchat due to the AR features. However, technical challenges like battery drain and response time were highlighted. The thesis concludes that while AR has great potential to enhance social media experiences, ongoing improvements in technical infrastructure are essential to fully realize this potential. Future research should explore the long-term impacts of AR and its scalability across different platforms.