Dividing Complexity to Conquer New Dimensions – Towards a Framework for Designing Augmented Reality Solutions

Augmented reality (AR) can foster service innovation and thus cope with some of the most urgent challenges in the service science domain, namely supporting frontline workers while ensuring high safety standards. Therefore, the utilization of AR can help to achieve these goals. On the contrary, AR remains a complex technology with specific requirements and preconditions that demand expertise to overcome them. Based on a case study, we derive a framework for designing AR solutions, which helps divide the complexity of designing and developing AR-based services to support the adoption and diffusion of AR applications. Such an encompassing perspective on initial AR explorations helps to transform the acquired information into a thorough proof of concept, pilot implementations and ultimately productive software

Conceptualizing Interactions of Augmented Reality Solutions

The rapid evolution of augmented reality has resulted in an ever-increasing number of applications in a wide range of industries and services. Despite this progress, there is still a lack of conceptual understanding of AR interactions and the entire solution space. To bridge this gap, we conceptualize AR solution interactions and provide a comprehensive taxonomy. To represent the state-of-the-art, we build upon an extensive literature review. The resulting taxonomy consists of seven dimensions that encompass 29 characteristics. We contribute to the understanding of AR interactions and, as a result, the applicability of AR solutions in businesses by developing the taxonomy. Likewise, the taxonomy can guide the design of AR solutions as it convincingly describes the solution space

Empowering Users to Create Augmented Reality-Based Solutions – Deriving Design Principles for No-Code AR Authoring Tools

Grounded on an experimental study with 18 participants, we derive 15 design principles for no-code AR authoring tools in an organizational setting. The study consists of two distinct treatments that aim to augment lightweight processes with AR. The outcomes are two interactive tutorials utilizing AR instructions. Following the no-code approach, the participants were empowered to create relevant AR content using a reduced interface and no need for advanced configurations or coding. The study thus combines two research streams with the aim of better understanding mechanisms for AR use in a professional context. As prior work has shown, despite the potential benefits, the adoption of AR authoring tools is limited because ramping up AR to productive use is heavily dependent on consulting and custom software solutions. Our novel approach bears the potential to broaden application domains and empower professionals to apply AR

Is There More Than Pokémon Go? – Exploring the State of Research on Causal Modeling in the Field of Augmented Reality

The paper explores how scholars apply causal modeling to gain an understanding of augmented reality as innovative technology and its potential for application. To do so, we conducted a structured literature review and applied a graph database-driven approach to analyze how scholars research augmented reality. Such an approach enables in-depth analysis of the body of knowledge that is not accessible in traditional ways of exploring literature. The results help to understand where we as a community stand and how directions for future research can help reshape the understanding of augmented reality and its application

THE PROCESS AUGMENTABILITY CANVAS - HOW TO FIND THE SWEET SPOT FOR AUGMENTED REALITY

The adoption of augmented reality (AR) has been one of the defining technological trends of the past decade. While AR has experienced significant growth in consumer electronics, its potential for professional use still needs to be explored. Despite the growing interest in AR, determining its feasibility and potential to satisfy business needs remains challenging. To address this gap, we used a mixedmethod research approach to create a guiding framework called the process augmentability canvas. Drawing on a comprehensive case study of a major European maintenance, repair, and overhaul service provider, as well as state-of-the literature, we present a canvas that allows scholars and practitioners to evaluate AR’s applicability for a given process thoroughly. By providing a structured approach to analyzing AR solutions, the process augmentability canvas contributes to a better understanding of how AR can be used efficiently in organizational settings

User-Centered Requirements for Augmented Reality as a Cognitive Assistant for Safety-Critical Services

Augmented reality (AR) is widely acknowledged to be beneficial for services with exceptionally high requirements regarding knowledge and simultaneous tasks to be performed and are safety-critical. This study explores the user-centered requirements for an AR cognitive assistant in the operations of a large European maritime logistics hub. Specifically, it deals with the safety-critical service process of soil sounding. Based on fourteen think-aloud sessions during service delivery, two expert interviews, and two expert workshops, five core requirements for AR cognitive assistants in soil sounding are derived, namely (1) real-time overlay, (2) variety in displaying information, (3) multi-dimensional tracking, (4) collaboration, and (5) interaction. The study is the first one on the applicability and feasibility of AR in the maritime industry and identifies requirements that impact further research on AR use in safety-critical environments

Appendix: Clustering and Derivation of Design Principles

The material provided presents the raw data of the user study. Based on the comments raised, we identified the underlying concepts and clustered to gain requirements. Those are build up to design principles according to the process proposed by Gregor et al. (2020) and by Purao et al. (2020)

How Does Business Process Modeling Reflect Augmented Reality-Based Processes?

Process modeling is broadly agnostic concerning the technology used for inputs and outputs, despite the choice of technology significantly determines and influences processes. Given the maturation of augmented reality and its increasing application in services, we seek to explore whether business process modeling can support such emerging and immersive technologies. To determine if current process modeling approaches are suitable for this purpose, we conduct a criteria-based assessment of the literature based on a thorough literature review. As a result, we identified several shortcomings and propose a research agenda to guide further development of process modeling to cope with the increasing adoption of augmented reality for service design and service innovation in organizations. Thus, we contribute to the understanding of augmented reality as a matter of service design and increase the accessibility of augmented reality for small and medium enterprise