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Tips for Designing Co-located Experiences in Mixed Reality 

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Savio MeniferellipsOct 30, 2024ellips3 min read

Tips for Designing Co-located Experiences in Mixed Reality 

Mixed reality (MR) has enabled exciting new ways for people to interact in shared virtual spaces, blending physical presence with immersive digital environments. Co-located experiences, where multiple users interact within the same physical space, enhance these interactions by making social presence and communication feel more natural.

This blog explores what co-located MR is, why it matters, and practical tips and challenges for designing meaningful, shared experiences.

What is Co-located MR?

In a co-located MR experience, two or more users are physically in the same location, engaging in a shared augmented or virtual environment. Unlike traditional VR, which can feel isolating, co-located MR emphasizes shared presence, allowing users to interact with each other and the virtual space in a more natural way.

Why Co-located MR?

Co-located MR experiences are unique because they blend digital interaction with real-world social cues, bringing people closer in a shared experience. Some key benefits include:

  • Physical Touch: Allows for tactile interactions, which feel more immersive and realistic.
  • Spatial Awareness: Users have a sense of where others are in the room, enhancing social presence.
  • Shared Objects: Both physical and virtual objects become focal points for interaction.
  • Direct Communication: Users hear each other’s actual voices, creating a more authentic experience.
  • Spontaneous Interactions: Being in the same space enables unplanned and enjoyable moments of connection.

Design Opportunities for Co-located MR

Co-located experiences allow designers to craft activities that leverage shared space and presence. Here are some opportunities:

  • Co-Creation: Encourage users to create together, fostering personal connections and collaboration.
  • Interdependent Activities: Design challenges that require collaboration, making the experience more engaging and interactive.
  • Social Catalysts: Use virtual or physical objects as points of interaction to bring people together.
  • Knowledge Sharing: Allow for one user to guide another, whether in learning to use an app or playing a game.
  • Real-world Metaphors: Leverage everyday instincts and previous knowledge, making the experience intuitive and accessible.

Tips for Designing Co-located MR Experiences

To design effective co-located MR experiences, keep the following tips in mind:

  • Creative Avatars: There is the possibility to design avatars that cover the MR headsets (e.g., helmets), which can help represent users without obstructing body visibility, while still having expressive faces.
  • Minimize Accidents: Ensure a safe distance between users to prevent accidental touch and maintain comfort.
  • Adequate Movement Space: Adjust movement freedom based on room size to avoid bumping.
  • Equitable Experience: Avoid private user interfaces for general interactions and use “billboarding” techniques, where elements face each user, to create an inclusive experience.
  • Interactive World Elements: Design objects that react to user presence to make the virtual environment feel dynamic and alive.

Challenges and Pitfalls

While co-located MR offers exciting possibilities, it’s essential to consider and address these common challenges:

  • Awareness in Full VR: Full VR can reduce spatial awareness, increasing the risk of accidents. Use augmented elements that don’t fully obstruct the physical space.
  • Calibration Differences: The space calibration between users might not be fully accurate, so avoid very small elements below the margin of error that might be misaligned between users.
  • Depth Mismatches: Account for the potential of users walking through virtual objects due to spatial overlap.
  • Audio Overlap: Be mindful of sound leakage between headsets and address any synchronization delays, as these can disrupt immersion.

Conclusion

Co-located MR experiences provide a unique way to enhance social interaction through immersive technology. By leveraging shared space and thoughtful design, these experiences can bring people closer together, bridging the digital and physical worlds. With careful planning to maximize user comfort and awareness, designers can create meaningful, memorable experiences that feel as natural as real-life interactions.

Table of Contents
  • Introduction
  • Tips for Designing Co-located Experiences in Mixed Reality 
  • What is Co-located MR?
  • Why Co-located MR?
  • Design Opportunities for Co-located MR
  • Tips for Designing Co-located MR Experiences
  • Challenges and Pitfalls
  • Conclusion
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