Wearable augmented reality (AR) was once confined to industrial and medical applications. Recent technological leaps, such as the launch of Apple Vision Pro and smart glasses from companies like Meta and Snap, are shifting immersive technologies into the consumer market.
Dr , from the School of Architecture, Design and Planning, is leading research that explores how AR technologies like smart glasses and audio AR can integrate meaningfully and ethically into routines and everyday experiences. 聽
The project team also includes Dr , whose current research agenda focuses on accessible and inclusive metaverse environments and Dr , who has investigated the role of AR in high-risk medical contexts. Their expertise contributes critical perspectives on equity, inclusion, and safety in everyday AR experiences.
鈥淥ur research aims to understand how wearable AR technologies, such as smart glasses, can be meaningfully integrated into daily routines and to provide design insights that support practical, ethical, and user-centred adoption,鈥 said Dr Tran.聽
Bridging research and industry for real world impact
Dr Tran and her team are working in partnership with , to bridge the gap between academic research with industry practice. 鈥淭hrough this collaboration, we combine research insights with Contxtual鈥檚 strong industry network of wearable AR practitioners, as well as knowledge from industry conferences and workshops worldwide,鈥 Dr Tran said. 聽
Oliver Weidlich, Founder and Director of Design and Innovation at Contxtual, emphasised the value of the partnership, 鈥渢his exchange ensures that research is informed by real-world trends while also translating academic findings into practical insights that can shape emerging AR technologies and user experiences.鈥
Examples of seamless interaction through finger-tap input on Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses, highlighting the beginning of more advanced everyday AR interactions.
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LinkOur research aims to understand how wearable AR technologies can be meaningfully integrated into daily routines and to provide design insights that support practical, ethical, and user-centred adoption.
Dr Tram Tran
Project Lead and Lecturer in Design, School of Architecture, Design and Planning
Mapping the AR landscape
As part of their foundational work, , identifying key themes such as ethics, accessibility, and the rise of intelligent agents and avatar embodiment.
The team then to understand how early adopters are using AR in everyday life.聽
鈥淥ne surprising finding was how AR devices are currently establishing themselves primarily as entertainment tools,鈥 Dr Tran explained. 鈥淲hile this shows the appeal of AR for leisure, it also highlights how much untapped potential remains for productivity and everyday use.鈥澛
The research emphasises that people want AR to feel familiar 鈥 offering continuity with devices like smartphones and tablets 鈥 while also drawing on the unique strengths of spatial interaction and immersive design.
By grounding innovation in ordinary, day-to-day interactions, the team is showing how wearable AR can evolve from novelty to necessity, paving the way for technologies that are innovative, ethical, inclusive, and deeply human.
Designing subtle, accessible experiences
In the most recent study, the team are researching audio-based AR, which offers less intrusive and more equitable solutions, 鈥渢his includes experiences such as improving clarity in interpreting the meaning of everyday sounds and evoking personal and cultural memory,鈥 Dr Tran explained. 聽
鈥淭hese applications could be particularly valuable for people who are visually impaired or seeking less screen-focused forms of AR.鈥
Students from the School of Architecture, Design and Planning have been a part of this research, preparing the next generation of designers to shape the future of immersive technologies.聽
鈥淥ur work contributes design research insights grounded in everyday experiences,鈥 Dr Tran said.
Balancing innovation with ethics聽
Privacy, safety, and distraction are front of mind for researchers, 鈥渨e saw a strong emphasis on the need for safe, ethical, and socially aware integration of AR into daily life,鈥 said Dr Tran.聽
鈥淐oncerns around privacy, such as recording without consent, were notably highlighted in Australian news coverage, where smart glasses were described as 鈥榗reepy as hell鈥. This reaction reflects broader societal worries about distraction and the risk of becoming disconnected from our surroundings as AR technologies become more embedded in everyday life.鈥澛
Rather than signalling a barrier, these concerns highlight the importance of research that supports human needs and behaviours without compromising privacy, safety, or trust. By addressing these challenges directly, the team aims to shape AR experiences that are transparent, responsible, and aligned with everyday values.
Our researchers
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