Exploring the Design of Augmented Reality for Fostering Flow in Running: A Design Science Study
Julia Pham, Sandra Birnstiel, Benedikt Morschheuser
This study explores how to design Augmented Reality (AR) interfaces for sport glasses to help runners achieve a state of 'flow,' or peak performance. Using a Design Science Research approach, the researchers developed and evaluated an AR prototype over two iterative design cycles, gathering feedback from nine runners through field tests and interviews to derive design recommendations.
Problem
Runners often struggle to achieve and maintain a state of flow due to the difficulty of monitoring performance without disrupting their rhythm, especially in dynamic outdoor environments. While AR glasses offer a potential solution by providing hands-free feedback, there is a significant research gap on how to design effective, non-intrusive interfaces that support, rather than hinder, this immersive state.
Outcome
- AR interfaces can help runners achieve flow by providing continuous, non-intrusive feedback directly in their field of view, fulfilling the need for clear goals and unambiguous feedback. - Non-numeric visual cues, such as expanding circles or color-coded warnings, are more effective than raw numbers for conveying performance data without causing cognitive overload. - Effective AR design for running must be adaptive and customizable, allowing users to choose the metrics they see and control when the display is active to match personal goals and minimize distractions. - The study produced four key design recommendations: provide easily interpretable feedback beyond numbers, ensure a seamless and embodied interaction, allow user customization, and use a curiosity-inducing design to maintain engagement.
Host: Welcome to A.I.S. Insights — powered by Living Knowledge. I’m your host, Anna Ivy Summers. Today, we’re looking at how technology can help us achieve that elusive state of peak performance, often called 'flow'. We’re diving into a fascinating study titled "Exploring the Design of Augmented Reality for Fostering Flow in Running." Essentially, it explores how to design AR interfaces for sport glasses to help runners get, and stay, in the zone. Here to break it down for us is our expert analyst, Alex Ian Sutherland. Welcome, Alex.
Expert: Great to be here, Anna.
Host: So, Alex, let's start with the big picture. Most serious runners I know use a smartwatch. What's the problem this study is trying to solve that a watch doesn't already?
Expert: That's the perfect question. The problem is disruption. To get into a state of flow, you need focus. But to check your pace or heart rate on a watch, you have to break your form, look down, and interact with a device. That single action can pull you right out of your rhythm.
Host: It completely breaks your concentration.
Expert: Exactly. And AR sport glasses offer a hands-free solution by putting data directly in your field of view. But that creates a new challenge: how do you show that information without it becoming just another distraction? That’s the critical design gap this study tackles.
Host: So how did the researchers approach this? It sounds tricky to get right.
Expert: They used a very practical, hands-on method called Design Science Research. They didn't just theorize; they built and tested. They took a pair of commercially available AR glasses and designed an interface. Then, they had nine real runners use the prototype on their actual training routes.
Host: And they got feedback?
Expert: Yes, in two distinct cycles. The first design was very basic—it just showed the runner's heart rate as a number. After getting feedback, they created a second, more advanced version based on what the runners said they needed. This iterative process of build, test, and refine is key.
Host: I'm curious what they found. Did the second version work better?
Expert: It worked much better. And this leads to one of the biggest findings: for high-focus activities, non-numeric visual cues are far more effective than raw numbers.
Host: What does that mean in practice? What did the runners see?
Expert: Instead of just a number, the improved design used a rotating circle that would expand as the runner approached their target heart rate, and then fade away once they were in the zone to minimize distraction. It also used a simple red frame as a warning if their heart rate got too high. It’s about making the data interpretable at a glance, without conscious thought.
Host: So it becomes more of a feeling than a number you have to process. What else stood out?
Expert: Customization was absolutely critical. The study found that a one-size-fits-all approach fails because runners have different goals. Some want to track pace, others heart rate. Experienced runners might prefer minimal data, relying more on how their body feels, while beginners want more constant guidance.
Host: And the AR interface needed to adapt to that.
Expert: Precisely. The system needs to be adaptive, allowing users to choose their metrics and even turn the display off completely with a simple button press. Giving the user that control is essential to supporting flow, not breaking it.
Host: This is all very interesting for the fitness tech world, but let's broaden it out for our business audience. Why does a study about runners and AR matter for, say, a logistics manager or a software developer?
Expert: Because this is a masterclass in effective user interface design for any high-concentration task. The core principle—reducing cognitive load—is universal. Think about a technician repairing complex machinery using AR instructions. You don’t want them distracted by dense text; you want simple, intuitive visual cues, just like the expanding circle for the runner.
Host: So this is about the future of how we interact with information in any professional setting.
Expert: Absolutely. The second big takeaway for business is the power of deep personalization. This study shows that to create a truly valuable product, you have to allow users to tailor the experience to their specific goals and expertise level. This isn't just about changing the color scheme; it's about fundamentally altering the information and interface based on the user's context.
Host: And are there other applications that come to mind?
Expert: Definitely. Think of heads-up displays for pilots or surgeons. In those fields, providing critical data without causing distraction can be a matter of life and death. This study provides a blueprint for what the researchers call "embodied interaction," where the technology feels like a seamless extension of the user, not a separate tool they have to consciously operate. That is the holy grail for a huge range of industries.
Host: So, to summarize: the future of effective digital interfaces, especially in AR, isn't about throwing more data at people. It's about presenting the right information, in the most intuitive way possible, and giving the user ultimate control.
Expert: You've got it. It’s about designing for flow, whether you're on a 10k run or a factory floor.
Host: A powerful insight into a future that’s coming faster than we think. Alex Ian Sutherland, thank you so much for your analysis today.
Expert: My pleasure, Anna.
Host: And thanks to all of you for tuning into A.I.S. Insights. Join us next time as we continue to connect research with reality.
