Exploring the Extent of Usability for Augmented Profile Interfaces in Enhancing Conversation Experiences

Abstract In this study, we investigated how to design a usable augmented reality (AR) profile conversation assistant focusing on how and which information leads to enhanced conversation experience and satisfaction. We drew on usability practices including user need interviews, information disposition sessions and an experiment comparing the conversation experiences between AR profile usage and non-usage. We provide insights into how to design a user interface that can enhance users' conversation experience and satisfaction compared to existing interfaces, especially in terms of type, quantity and placement of information on the AR profile. The three main design insights are to (1) limit the topics to personal information, recent events, preferences and hobbies; (2) use a text-based card format with emojis and make a clear distinction between preferred and not preferred topics through font size and placement difference; and (3) limit the number of information provision pages to less than four pages; however, we were not able to resolve the problem of the guilt and artificiality users feel in acquiring information about others from the AR profile. Thus, to resolve this problem, we suggest shifting our paradigm from a techno-solutionist perspective to breaking the illusion of the omnipotence of technology.