What is the Social impacts of augmented reality?
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Social Impacts of Augmented Reality
Augmented Reality and Social Interaction
Augmented Reality (AR) has a significant impact on social interactions. Research indicates that AR can influence task performance, nonverbal behavior, and social connectedness. For instance, participants performed simple tasks better but complex tasks worse in the presence of virtual agents, demonstrating social facilitation and inhibition effects1. Additionally, AR users tend to avoid sitting on virtual agents and choose seating positions that do not require turning their heads away from these agents, indicating a strong influence on nonverbal behavior1. However, AR users reported feeling less socially connected to their partners compared to non-AR users, highlighting a potential social cost of using AR in mixed-reality environments1.
Sociability, Entertainment, and Learning in AR
While AR applications are often praised for their entertainment and educational value, their impact on sociability is less clear. A field experiment conducted in a Finnish science center found that although AR users recognized the entertainment and learning opportunities provided by AR, there was no significant increase in perceived sociability or social behavior compared to non-AR users2. This suggests that while AR can be engaging, it may not necessarily enhance social interactions and could even create a conflict between the real and augmented realities2.
Positive Social Impact and Prosocial Behavior
AR can also be designed to promote positive social impacts and prosocial behavior. For example, augmentations in AR can significantly increase the perceived reasons to help in social situations, although this can also lead to disagreements about agency and responsibility between the helper and the helped4. This indicates that while AR can motivate prosocial behavior, it also complicates social dynamics and perceptions of responsibility4.
AR in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Interventions
AR has shown promise in supporting social, cognitive, and behavioral development in children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Systematic reviews suggest that AR-based interventions can be effective in promoting health and wellbeing in this population5. Additionally, AR smartglasses have been found to be safe and well-tolerated by children and adults with ASD, with minimal negative effects reported9. These findings highlight the potential of AR as a therapeutic tool for improving social skills in individuals with developmental deficits8.
Educational Settings and Social Inclusion
In educational settings, AR has been shown to enhance learning experiences and motivation. However, there is a notable lack of accessibility features in many AR systems, which can hinder social inclusion6. Meta-analyses indicate that AR has a medium effect on learning gains, suggesting that while AR can be beneficial, it is not a panacea and must be designed with inclusivity in mind7.
Conclusion
Augmented Reality has a multifaceted impact on social interactions, offering both opportunities and challenges. While it can enhance task performance, entertainment, and learning, it may also reduce social connectedness and create conflicts between real and augmented realities. AR shows promise in therapeutic settings, particularly for individuals with ASD, but must be designed inclusively to ensure broad social benefits. Future research should continue to explore these dynamics to maximize the positive social impacts of AR.
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Most relevant research papers on this topic
Social interaction in augmented reality
Augmented reality improves task performance and nonverbal behavior, but reduces social connection with partners compared to non-augmented reality users.
Non-RCT
Rigorous Journal
Highly CitedDoes Augmented Reality Affect Sociability, Entertainment, and Learning? A Field Experiment
Augmented reality apps can provide entertainment and learning opportunities, but do not automatically increase perceived sociability, social behavior, positive affect, or learning performance.
Non-RCT
Large Human TrialVirtual and Augmented Reality for Positive Social Impact
This workshop aims to promote positive social impact in VR and AR research, identifying challenges and opportunities for collaboration among like-minded professionals.
Exploring the Effects of Head-Mounted Augmented Reality on Helping Behaviour
Head-Mounted Augmented Reality can reduce anxiety and increase perceived reasons to help, but may lead to disagreements on agency and responsibility in complex social structures.
Non-RCTExploring the Impact of Augmented Reality in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review
Augmented reality-based treatments show promising results in promoting, supporting, and protecting health and wellbeing in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder.
Systematic ReviewRigorous JournalHighly CitedSystematic review and meta-analysis of augmented reality in educational settings
Augmented reality (AR) in education has a medium effect on learning effectiveness, with benefits such as learning gains and motivation, but accessibility features are needed for social inclusion.
Meta-AnalysisHighly CitedMeta-analysis of the impact of Augmented Reality on students’ learning gains
Augmented Reality (AR) has a medium effect on students' learning gains, with potential for further exploration and improvement in various educational settings.
Meta-AnalysisHighly CitedVirtual reality and augmented reality as strategies for teaching social skills to individuals with intellectual disability: A systematic review
Virtual reality and augmented reality programs show potential in improving social skills for individuals with intellectual disabilities, but methodological limitations must be addressed.
Systematic ReviewSafety and Lack of Negative Effects of Wearable Augmented-Reality Social Communication Aid for Children and Adults with Autism
The Brain Power Autism System (BPAS) is a safe and effective augmented reality smartglasses-based social communication aid for people with autism spectrum disorders, with no major negative effects observed across a wide age and severity range.
Observational StudyVirtual reality and augmented reality in social learning spaces: a literature review
Virtual reality and augmented reality can enhance social learning spaces, but further research is needed on accessibility, interplay between physical and virtual environments, and updated learning theory foundations.
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