Evaluating QoE in Collaborative Co-Located Training Using Heterogeneous AR Devices

Collaborative training applications leveraging Augmented Reality (AR) are increasingly being used across various domains to provide immersive and interactive experiences. In this paper, we report on a user study designed to evaluate and compare user experiences across heterogeneous AR platforms used simultaneously within a collaborative co-located cybersecurity training application called Login PARtners. 36 participants were organised into pairs, with one participant using a Head-Mounted Display (HMD), HoloLens 2, and another a Hand-Held Device (HHD), an Android mobile phone, representing different affordability and availability spectra. Through a set of questionnaires, we investigated users' perception of the virtual environment's visual aspects, virtual object interaction and gestures, as well as collaboration, across both devices. While results showed some significant differences between HMD and HHD users, namely with respect to perceived virtual object three-dimensionality and interaction intuitiveness, both participant groups generally found the collaborative experience to be successful.