Narrative Realms: An AR Collaborative Writing Tool

Three questions for the project team

What was the particular challenge of the project from a UX point of view?
The particular challenge of the project from a UX perspective was the nascent state of XR technologies and the lack of established UX guidelines. As XR technologies are not yet widely adopted, users often need to be trained in their basic use, much like the first iPhone which relied heavily on skeuomorphic design to teach users how to use the digital version of familiar analogue tools. This necessitated a focus on intuitive design and user training to ensure that users could comfortably navigate and use the platform.

What was your personal highlight in the development process? Was there an aha!-moment, was there a low point?
During the user study, participants struggled significantly with an XR interaction—pressing a button to record their speech. To address this, we employed skeuomorphic design principles, replacing the button with a microphone model that had the physical affordances of a real microphone. This very simple change dramatically improved user interaction, users began to visibly have fun, really highlighting the importance of intuitive design in enhancing user experience in XR applications.

Where do you see yourself and the project in the next five years?
We are currently rebuilding the platform to leverage the more advanced capabilities of the Apple Vision Pro, which will significantly enhance the user experience with more sophisticated features. Additionally, my participation in Games London's Game Changer Programme, which supports London-based game business founders, will provide invaluable resources, workshops, and mentoring to develop Narrative Realms. Within the next five years, we aim to have a fully functioning version of Narrative Realms available on the VisionOS App Store. Our goal is to create a refreshingly unique XR experience in this exciting new market.