Stepping into AR: Exploring Optimal Positioning for Monocular Head-Worn Displays for Reading on the Go

Head-worn displays (HWDs), like the Vuzix Z100 and North's Focals, are designed to be worn all day as smart eyeglasses while performing everyday tasks. These products aim to display information in our field of view (FOV), enabling monitoring information during daily activities. We conducted a study using the Quest 3, a high resolution color video pass-through virtual reality (VR) headset, to emulate everyday augmented reality glasses. Users walked on a predefined track while reading a message to explore the optimal display positioning for HWDs while walking. The use of HWDs was found to decrease walking speed, with display positions closer to the nose (between -24° and 0°) yielding better performance. Our results and observations indicate that closer-to-nose positioning reduces cognitive load and excessive head or eye movements, enhancing overall dual task performance.