"If you are a Star Wars fan, use the force": Exploring Children's Virtual-Object Interaction Preferences in AR Headsets

Children are increasingly using augmented reality (AR) headsets in different contexts, such as education. However, it is unclear how children expect to interact with virtual objects in AR headsets; children’s expectations for technology can significantly differ from adults. Therefore, we conducted an elicitation study with 20 children (ages 9-12), in which children proposed interactions for tasks with a virtual cube (e.g., moving, expanding, creating, etc.) in an AR headset. We constructed a conceptual model of children’s expectations with virtual-object interactions in AR headsets and analyzed their proposed interactions. We found that children preferred gestures, expecting to utilize their whole body (e.g., pushing, kicking) and external objects (e.g., hammer, sword) to interact with the cube, and rarely considered speech, which differs from adults. Children also frequently added their own motivations, creating a narrative behind their interactions. We provide foundational insights into children’s expectations for virtual-object interaction in AR headsets.