Libr App
Libr is an Augmented Reality based library. It allows you to freely navigate the library with the help of advanced AR technology. This exciting approach will drive higher user engagement to their local libraries.
Timeline
11th June - 18th Aug
My Role
User Research, Wireframing and Prototyping, User flows, Affinity diagrams and AR technology.
About the project
Users are getting acquainted with AR and are realising its potential. Augmented reality is our future and is likely to have a positive influence on information literacy of library users. Being an avid reader myself, I spend a lot of my time thinking about how to make libraries more interactive. With the introduction of ebooks, users don’t find the need to physically go to the libraries. Some users find going to a library a waste of time whereas the others simply think it’s tedious.
With the introduction of AR, many industries have noticed increased engagement and a positive user experience. In addition to that, problems can be solved more efficiently by reducing cognitive load.
With the introduction of AR, many industries have noticed increased engagement and a positive user experience. In addition to that, problems can be solved more efficiently by reducing cognitive load.
Understanding the Users
I knew AR was going to be the solution to my problem. But how? I decided to gather first hand data by conducting interviews in the library with the users and librarians.
My goal was to:
Understand user pain points Discover how users were making decisions Recognize the potential of using AR
My goal was to:
Affinity Diagram
In order to make sense of such a large amount of information, I used affinity diagramming in Miro. I categorized my questions to identify similar patterns and relationships. This engaging process encouraged open communication and sharing of opinions.
Why AR?
Could be more fun
Better technology
Heard of BR but not AR
Interactive and exciting
Would encourage more people to come to libraries
Could save time and effort
Borrowing books would be easier
Library Benefits
Prefer library over kindle
Beneficial for my studies
Quiet and much better than home
Fun and colorful books for my kids
Exploring is exciting
To gain knowledge and perspective
Decision Making Process
Borrow what I want and leave
Read the first few pages in the library and decide
I take the chance hoping I would like it
I always go for the familiar authors
Get a couple of books and see which ones I like
I want to discover more genres but I don't know how
Ask the librarian where the book is
Look around to find the book I want. Sometimes It's not at the right place
Frustrations
Searching for a book is time consuming
Unsure what books are available
Unclear genre classification
No way to tell the reviews
Can't ask librarian for everything
Borrow and returning is time consuming
Not enough collection
Don't want a library card
Scanning and searching is an outdated method
Goals
Get out of the library asap
Make sure their fav books are available
To be able to borrow online
Virtual maps for all libraries
Need genuine reviews
Key Findings
Users want the borrowing process to be quicker and efficient
AR will drive more users to the libraries
Users prefer a clear classification of the genres available
User Flow
In order to simplify the process and continue exploring AR, I decided to lay down a foundation by building User flows. It gave me a fundamental understanding of the pages I wanted to build and bring my vision to life.
Solution
1. Borrowing process
Libr aims to digitalize the process of borrowing and returning books at the library. With the help of this app, users can scan books and checkout efficiently.
2. Augmented Reality Maps
Libr makes it easier for users to navigate the library through AR. With the option of virtual maps, users can easily find their way around any library.
3. Genre Classification
From my research, most of the users go for familiar genres. Therefore having a clear classification of genres on the homepage was essential.
Reflection
This was my first project exploring AR and I must say, there is so much to learn. Working on his project was exciting and challenging at the same time. There aren’t any AR based libraries and I believe this technology could drive more users to their nearby libraries. It was interesting to talk to so many people and understand their views on AR. I still think I can make Libr a more accessible app through more research.
Being a book nerd myself, I do wish to see more library apps diving into AR. There is so much scope in this field and I would continue learning more about it.
Being a book nerd myself, I do wish to see more library apps diving into AR. There is so much scope in this field and I would continue learning more about it.