Breaking barriers in accessibility: mobile AR solutions for home assessments

Official URL: https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10447318.2025.2474478

This study evaluates augmented reality (AR) tools for spatial measurement in the Augmented Reality Home Assessment Tool, designed for consumer-grade mobile phones. The tool provides a reliable home assessment method based on residents’ functional limitations. A mixed-methods study with a convergent parallel design compared AR and traditional methods across speed, accuracy, ease of use, and user confidence. Learnability was tested through repeated measures with 32 participants in a within-subjects design. Results showed AR tools were faster, more accurate, easier to use, and boosted confidence, though a slight learning curve was noted. Qualitative methods, including think-aloud protocols, interviews, and observations, identified usability concerns related to information accessibility, user control, and cognitive aspects. Findings highlight the potential of phone-based AR for identifying residential barriers, supporting high-quality self-assessment for users familiar with mobile technology.