Spatial Computing: More Than a Click

Throughout history, user experience (UX) with technological devices has been a continuous improvement journey, increasing fluidity, simplicity, and convenience. Think of the leap from the keyboard to the mouse and from the mouse to touch screens. Previous knowledge has been leveraged in each evolution, but there has also been a good dose of learning and adaptation. Now, we are facing a new evolutionary leap: Spatial Computing. Interactions in Spatial

Computing are more complex than clicking a button. These emerging virtual worlds will allow us to move, interact, and leave persistent objects, known as "anchoring" objects. It is very different from those 2D screens we are used to. Application development teams will have to incorporate new experts in areas such as architecture or interior design if they really want to offer a complete experience.

The Era of Spatial UX

We are entering the era of Spatial UX. When developing applications for this platform, companies should consider not only the interface but also the broader context in which the applications will operate.

We will no longer have just a screen that displays information but a complex three-dimensional space where the user will need to reach a place, explore it, and look around. They may be standing, sitting, or lying down. If they want to jump, crouch, or shake their head, the virtual environment must be able to assimilate any of those movements.

If there is a chair in the room, it must be on the floor. If an object can be dragged across the floor, it can be moved until it finds the wall. If a glass on a table is pushed beyond the edge, it will fall. We are witnessing a combination of realism and creativity – imitating the world as we know it and adding new forms.

Extrapolate or Start from Scratch?

From a UX design perspective, companies often initially try to transition from 2D designs to 3D. This approach offers certain advantages. Initially, it provides greater flexibility when you are looking to fully utilize the potential of the new technology and transition to 3D. However, a second transformation will be necessary, shifting the user learning curve to that point.

It is also not wise to discard everything and start from scratch. The discipline of Spatial UX takes many heuristics from traditional UX. It is essential to understand how users behave and interact with this new space and its propositions. In fact, during initial tests with new devices like headsets or glasses, users tend to "freeze" and need some time before they start walking, moving, and using the solution.

Accessibility is also fundamental: applications must be adapted for different abilities.

A positive aspect of this transition is that many gestures needed to interact in Spatial Computing are natural. We all know how to pick up an object or start a conversation. Spatial UX should go in that direction: proposing plausible actions.

An Interesting... and Safe Future

A fundamental aspect is user safety. If a person moves around a room, the application must consider all obstacles, objects on the floor that they might trip over, or those at hand height that they might knock over or spill.

Spatial UX analyzes the entire environment, including fire extinguishers and emergency exits. Similarly, it must maintain logic in the proposal: for example, it makes no sense to anchor a gigantic neon sign if it obstructs the view.

We are taking the first steps towards a user experience designed for the 3D universe of Spatial Computing. Although we are in the early stages, we can already conclude that this technology offers us an exciting future full of opportunities.