Comparative Study of Handheld and Head-Mounted Displays in Early Phases of Design Using Spatial Computing Environment for Mass Study

This research investigates the ergonomics and effectiveness of spatial computing (SC) systems in the early stages of architectural design. SC encompasses advanced digital tools such as augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR), and extended reality (XR), facilitating interaction with both physical and digital environments. We developed an SC application serving as a spatial interface, enabling designers to access and manipulate virtual and physical design models simultaneously. Our study involved twelve experiments comparing two types of SC systems: handheld interfaces (Samsung tablet) and head-mounted displays (Magic Leap). The findings revealed that architects using head-mounted displays and controllers experienced greater control and more precise perception of their designs compared to those using handheld devices. Additionally, architects reported higher engagement levels with head-mounted displays. The study highlights the potential of SC technologies to enhance architectural design processes, emphasizing the advantages of head-mounted displays in improving interaction, control, and engagement in hybrid design environments. This research fills a gap in the literature by providing a comparative analysis of handheld and head-mounted SC technologies, offering insights into their impact on designer behavior and the efficacy of spatial interfaces during the early design phases. The results underscore the importance of integrating advanced SC technologies to bridge the gap between abstract concepts and tangible architectural solutions, ultimately enhancing the design process and stakeholder communication.