Exploring Augmented Reality User Interface Transitions Across Mid-Air, On-Body and Physical Surfaces

Augmented Reality User Interfaces commonly stay floated in midair unless explicitly moved by users. This often results in suboptimal performance due to the absence of haptic feedback and arm fatigue. We explore the transition of AR Interfaces to leverage onbody and physical surfaces, e.g., the arm and desk, in addition to mid-air. We begin with a user study to assess the potential of these surfaces for transitioning virtual UIs. Study results indicate a strong user preference for transitioning interfaces from mid-air to physical surfaces when they are available. We further explore three UI transition mechanisms: manual, semi-automatic, and automatic, each with varying levels of automation and user control. Results from a user study reveal that semi-automatic transition is the most preferred method, as it offers a good balance between automation and user control. We conclude with design guidelines for transitioning AR UIs across mid-air, on-body, and physical surfaces.