A Comparative Evaluation of Augmented Reality Indoor Navigation versus Conventional Approaches

Abstract

In the context of Industry 4.0, augmented reality (AR) is becoming a key element for innovations in the field of lifetime usability of products and optimisation of production processes. Its integrated use outdoors via GPS and Simultaneous Location and Mapping (SLAM) indoors with a focus on inertial technologies enables precise positioning and efficient navigation in industrial environments. The aim of this study is to test the user-friendliness of the proposed indoor navigation system using inertial sensors. The AR application provides indoor navigation between defined points of interest representing key locations. ARCore and ARFoundation were used for development. Participants are tested using three different approaches to orientation in the environment. Their task is to evaluate the user-friendliness and compare the use of a smartphone with an ARNAV app, 2DMAP with visual elements, and variants without wayfinding support “BLIND”. User acceptance is validated using a standardized SUS questionnaire. The evaluation results show similar perceptions of the system among most respondents, except for the need for technical support and the presence of inconsistencies, where the ARNAV group showed different opinions, indicating the need for optimisation in these specific areas to improve the user experience. In line with other studies the results suggest that despite advances in augmented reality, there is still a lack of added value, especially for inexperienced users. Despite the number of studies available, user testing of the proposed systems remains poorly carried out, with the emphasis more on functional verification. The results of the study suggest that the low variety and simplicity of tasks in the studied environment limits significant differences in the perception of AR navigation. Future research should focus on the use of augmented reality in complex environments and in solving more complex tasks.