SAR Miniatures: Physical Scale Models as Immersive Prototypes for Spatially Augmented Environments

This paper explores the use of physical scale models as immersive prototypes in the design and development of Spatial Augmented Reality (SAR) environments. SAR integrates digital projections with physical spaces, offering benefits for spatial reasoning and coordinated activities. However, designing...

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Main Authors: Omar Martinez Gasca, Lucas Van Dorpe, Ivo Dewit, Lukas Van Campenhout
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Designs
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2411-9660/9/1/10
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author Omar Martinez Gasca
Lucas Van Dorpe
Ivo Dewit
Lukas Van Campenhout
author_facet Omar Martinez Gasca
Lucas Van Dorpe
Ivo Dewit
Lukas Van Campenhout
author_sort Omar Martinez Gasca
collection DOAJ
description This paper explores the use of physical scale models as immersive prototypes in the design and development of Spatial Augmented Reality (SAR) environments. SAR integrates digital projections with physical spaces, offering benefits for spatial reasoning and coordinated activities. However, designing SAR systems at full scale presents challenges in testing and refinement due to their complex physical–digital properties. To address this, we developed augmented miniature environments for two case studies: an in-store retail navigation system and a manufacturing assembly process. These models effectively materialized SAR’s most important experiential qualities at a manageable scale, enabling the exploration of spatial relationships, coordinated user activity, and system functionality in a tangible and accessible way. The miniatures facilitated collaborative design, providing a shared medium for stakeholders to visualize and experiment with SAR applications. This paper presents augmented miniatures as effective tools for SAR design that foster creative exploration and communication, and highlights opportunities for future research in combining these models with digital prototyping technologies.
format Article
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publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher MDPI AG
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series Designs
spelling doaj-art-2ecdd31427334acbbbad437af7de22032025-08-20T03:12:08ZengMDPI AGDesigns2411-96602025-01-01911010.3390/designs9010010SAR Miniatures: Physical Scale Models as Immersive Prototypes for Spatially Augmented EnvironmentsOmar Martinez Gasca0Lucas Van Dorpe1Ivo Dewit2Lukas Van Campenhout3Product Development, Faculty of Design Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, BelgiumDott Achilles, 2800 Mechelen, BelgiumProduct Development, Faculty of Design Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, BelgiumProduct Development, Faculty of Design Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, BelgiumThis paper explores the use of physical scale models as immersive prototypes in the design and development of Spatial Augmented Reality (SAR) environments. SAR integrates digital projections with physical spaces, offering benefits for spatial reasoning and coordinated activities. However, designing SAR systems at full scale presents challenges in testing and refinement due to their complex physical–digital properties. To address this, we developed augmented miniature environments for two case studies: an in-store retail navigation system and a manufacturing assembly process. These models effectively materialized SAR’s most important experiential qualities at a manageable scale, enabling the exploration of spatial relationships, coordinated user activity, and system functionality in a tangible and accessible way. The miniatures facilitated collaborative design, providing a shared medium for stakeholders to visualize and experiment with SAR applications. This paper presents augmented miniatures as effective tools for SAR design that foster creative exploration and communication, and highlights opportunities for future research in combining these models with digital prototyping technologies.https://www.mdpi.com/2411-9660/9/1/10spatial augmented realityembodied interactiondesign for interactiondesign researchminiature modelsresearch through design
spellingShingle Omar Martinez Gasca
Lucas Van Dorpe
Ivo Dewit
Lukas Van Campenhout
SAR Miniatures: Physical Scale Models as Immersive Prototypes for Spatially Augmented Environments
Designs
spatial augmented reality
embodied interaction
design for interaction
design research
miniature models
research through design
title SAR Miniatures: Physical Scale Models as Immersive Prototypes for Spatially Augmented Environments
title_full SAR Miniatures: Physical Scale Models as Immersive Prototypes for Spatially Augmented Environments
title_fullStr SAR Miniatures: Physical Scale Models as Immersive Prototypes for Spatially Augmented Environments
title_full_unstemmed SAR Miniatures: Physical Scale Models as Immersive Prototypes for Spatially Augmented Environments
title_short SAR Miniatures: Physical Scale Models as Immersive Prototypes for Spatially Augmented Environments
title_sort sar miniatures physical scale models as immersive prototypes for spatially augmented environments
topic spatial augmented reality
embodied interaction
design for interaction
design research
miniature models
research through design
url https://www.mdpi.com/2411-9660/9/1/10
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AT lucasvandorpe sarminiaturesphysicalscalemodelsasimmersiveprototypesforspatiallyaugmentedenvironments
AT ivodewit sarminiaturesphysicalscalemodelsasimmersiveprototypesforspatiallyaugmentedenvironments
AT lukasvancampenhout sarminiaturesphysicalscalemodelsasimmersiveprototypesforspatiallyaugmentedenvironments