Start Date

10-12-2017 12:00 AM

Description

Augmented reality (AR) is an unprecedented technology that integrates 3D virtual objects with the surrounding physical environment. As this technology becomes increasingly prevalent, more processes are conducted as a virtual-physical mix. For example, the mobile game Pokémon Go successfully mixes virtual gaming and physical outdoor activity to create a novel gaming experience; augmented museums add synthetic contents to bring historical figures to life; augmented print media associates realistic virtual images to enrich advertising. These observations lead to the main research question: what processes are more augmentable, and why? This paper proposes process augmentability theory that identifies one main construct (the authenticity requirement) and three moderators (3D visualization requirement, spatial association requirement, and synchronization requirement) as factors of a process that affect its augmentability. By studying the meaning, capability, and characteristics of AR, this paper contributes to a theoretical understanding of the potential reach of this new technology.

Share

COinS
 
Dec 10th, 12:00 AM

The Theory of Process Augmentability

Augmented reality (AR) is an unprecedented technology that integrates 3D virtual objects with the surrounding physical environment. As this technology becomes increasingly prevalent, more processes are conducted as a virtual-physical mix. For example, the mobile game Pokémon Go successfully mixes virtual gaming and physical outdoor activity to create a novel gaming experience; augmented museums add synthetic contents to bring historical figures to life; augmented print media associates realistic virtual images to enrich advertising. These observations lead to the main research question: what processes are more augmentable, and why? This paper proposes process augmentability theory that identifies one main construct (the authenticity requirement) and three moderators (3D visualization requirement, spatial association requirement, and synchronization requirement) as factors of a process that affect its augmentability. By studying the meaning, capability, and characteristics of AR, this paper contributes to a theoretical understanding of the potential reach of this new technology.