Augmented Reality Signage in Mixed-Use Shopping Mall Focusing on Visual Types of Directional Signage

This study aims to explore the effective types of signage in augmented reality (AR) environments. Although AR, a state-of-the-art technology, has been utilized in diverse contexts, its application in real-world situations is limited. This study examines the effectiveness of AR signage in mixed-use shopping malls in terms of wayfinding, which is a continuous problem. First, the time it took to make a decision was measured for three categories of signage: existing signage, AR-textual signage, and AR-graphic signage. Thirty directional sign images from the three categories of signage were used in the experiment. The sign images of the current sign system at the mixed-use mall were used as the control condition. Second, subjects were asked in a questionnaire to evaluate each AR-enhanced sign type in 5 aspects: uniformity, continuity, legibility, clarity, and aesthetics. The result found that AR-graphic signage is the most effective type in terms of decision-making time and aesthetics. However, it was found that for legibility and clarity of signage, textual elements should be adjusted in AR signage environments. Thus, this research suggests the use of mixed graphic and textual signage in AR environments.