Short answer

Incorporate location-based augmented reality features into tourism products to create more immersive and interactive experiences that encourage exploration of urban environments.

Field: User-Centred Design
Source: Bournemouth University Research Online (Bournemouth University) (2017)
Method: Qualitative Research
Evidence: Strong effect

By integrating virtual elements with real-world locations through mobile augmented reality, these games can create more interactive, educational, and entertaining experiences for tourists. This user-centred design research insight is drawn from a 2017 study published in Bournemouth University Research Online (Bournemouth University). Using Qualitative research, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Incorporate location-based augmented reality features into tourism products to create more immersive and interactive experiences that encourage exploration of urban environments.

Study

User-Centred DesignHigh ImpactStrong effect

Location-based AR games can enhance urban tourism engagement by blending virtual and physical experiences.

By integrating virtual elements with real-world locations through mobile augmented reality, these games can create more interactive, educational, and entertaining experiences for tourists.

Bournemouth University Research Online (Bournemouth University) · 2017

Key Findings

01Location-based AR games can bridge the gap between virtual and physical worlds for enhanced engagement.
02Tourists are receptive to mobile technologies that offer interactive and educational experiences.
03Designing for urban tourism requires an interdisciplinary approach combining social sciences, game design, and user research.

Application

Design takeaway

Incorporate location-based augmented reality features into tourism products to create more immersive and interactive experiences that encourage exploration of urban environments.

How to apply

Develop mobile applications for city tours or historical sites that overlay virtual information, characters, or challenges onto the real-world view through a smartphone camera.

Project actions

01Consider how to make the virtual elements feel relevant to the actual location.
02Think about how users will physically move around while playing.

Method & Evidence

AimHow can location-based augmented reality games be designed to create engaging and meaningful experiences for urban tourism?

MethodQualitative Research

ProcedureThe research likely involved a combination of literature review, user studies, and potentially the development or analysis of prototype AR games within urban tourism contexts.

ContextUrban tourism environments, mobile gaming, augmented reality applications

Variables

IVType of AR integration (location-based vs. non-location-based), game mechanics.

DVUser engagement, perceived enjoyment, educational value, interaction with the environment.

CVType of urban environment, tourist demographics, device used.

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Addresses a novel application of AR in a specific domain (tourism).
+Emphasizes user-centered design principles.

Limitations

The complexity of developing robust AR experiences and the reliance on user device capabilities can be challenging.

Reliability & validity

Reliability would depend on consistent user experience across different devices and environments. Validity would be strengthened by triangulating findings from user feedback, behavioral observation, and objective engagement metrics.

Think critically

To what extent can the novelty of AR wear off, and how can designers ensure long-term engagement beyond the initial 'wow' factor?

Design Principles

"Augment reality to enhance physical world interaction and engagement."

This approach offers a novel way to design engaging tourist activities that go beyond traditional sightseeing. It encourages deeper interaction with the urban environment, potentially leading to increased visitor satisfaction and a more memorable travel experience.

What This Means for Your Design

Using phone games that mix virtual stuff with real places can make visiting cities more fun and educational for tourists.

How to use in your project

1.Reference this study when discussing the potential of AR to enhance user engagement in interactive design projects.

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

This research highlights the potential of location-based augmented reality games to significantly enhance user engagement within urban tourism environments. By blending virtual game mechanics with the physical reality of a location, these experiences can offer tourists a more interactive, educational, and entertaining way to explore, aligning with user-centered design principles for creating meaningful interactions.

Source

Bournemouth University Research Online (Bournemouth University)

Designing engaging experiences with location-based augmented reality games for urban tourism environments

journal · 2017

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about location-based ar games can enhance urban tourism engagement by blending virtual and physical experiences?: Incorporate location-based augmented reality features into tourism products to create more immersive and interactive experiences that encourage exploration of urban environments. Evidence: Bournemouth University Research Online (Bournemouth University) (2017).
Why does "Location-based AR games can enhance urban tourism engagement by blending virtual and physical experiences." matter for design?: This approach offers a novel way to design engaging tourist activities that go beyond traditional sightseeing. It encourages deeper interaction with the urban environment, potentially leading to increased visitor satisfaction and a more memorable travel experience.
How can designers apply this research?: Incorporate location-based augmented reality features into tourism products to create more immersive and interactive experiences that encourage exploration of urban environments.
What were the main findings?: Location-based AR games can bridge the gap between virtual and physical worlds for enhanced engagement.. Tourists are receptive to mobile technologies that offer interactive and educational experiences.. Designing for urban tourism requires an interdisciplinary approach combining social sciences, game design, and user research.
What research method was used?: Qualitative Research.
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2017 journal from Bournemouth University Research Online (Bournemouth University).
What should I do differently in my next project?: Develop mobile applications for city tours or historical sites that overlay virtual information, characters, or challenges onto the real-world view through a smartphone camera.
What are the limitations?: The effectiveness can vary based on the quality of AR implementation, device capabilities, and the specific urban environment.