Is It Time for Augmented Reality Theory?

Abstract: While there has been several decades of augmented reality (AR) research in terms of psychological effects and outcomes, the level of theoretical development in the AR space has been fairly limited. The manuscript identifies several factors that contribute to this, starting from the historical definitions of AR, to how it has become an umbrella term for a wide range of technologies, and how ongoing development in AR continues to stretch that definition. By understanding some of the factors that make theoretical development difficult, this article identifies some areas of media psychology theory that would be relevant to all implementations of AR as well as some contextual theories that would only be brought in with specific implementations of AR. The manuscript then advances a framework for thinking about these differences in AR implementations and theory building, whether that is to isolate specific variables and build theory in that way, combine these variables and attempt to combine/bridge theory, or identify unique features of AR that might necessitate transforming existing media theories. This article aims to help researchers understand the current state of theorization and identify certain pathways for improving theoretical development with future studies into AR media technologies.