Reusable interaction design patterns for HMD-based AR in cultural heritage

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Patterns

A reusable interaction design pattern system for HMD-based AR.

AR interaction design patterns provide structured solutions to recurring challenges in augmented reality interaction design. Grounded in empirical research and iterative prototyping, the pattern system captures reusable design knowledge for navigation, spatial interaction, content presentation, and visitor experience in museum and cultural heritage contexts.

Overview of HMD-AR interaction design patterns

Application-Level Patterns

Avatar Guide

Avatar Guide

PoI Guide, Experience Navigation

Guiding visitors to points of interest through a virtual companion
Forward Cue-Routing

Forward Cue-Routing

PoI Guide, Experience Navigation

Guiding visitors through lightweight ground-anchored route cues
Step-In Trigger

Step-In Trigger

Experience Indicator, Spatial Trigger

Activating AR content through a floor-based spatial entry zone
Exhibit Knowledge Trigger

Exhibit Knowledge Trigger

Experience Indicator, Knowledge Activation

Activating deeper AR content through a concept-linked interaction
Sequential Explanation

Sequential Explanation

Experience Presenter, Sequential Content

Presenting exhibit information through structured, self-paced steps
AR Labelling

AR Labelling

Experience Presenter, Component-Level Explanation

Anchoring part-specific labels to exhibit components
Exhibit Reassembler

Exhibit Reassembler

Experience Presenter, Reconstruction, Hands-on Exploration

Reassembling incomplete exhibits through AR interaction
Exhibit Feature Drawing

Exhibit Feature Drawing

Experience Presenter, Creative Expression, Interpretive Interaction, Speculative Reconstruction

Drawing and exploring interpretive exhibit features in AR
Object Catching

Object Catching

Experience Presenter, Embodied Interaction, Environmental Awareness, Protective Interaction

Protecting vulnerable exhibits or environments through embodied AR interaction
© 2025–2026 Yu Liu CC BY-NC 4.0 Creative Commons BY-NC 4.0 License License