By Ellery Lloyd
For this app review project I chose to download and review an augmented reality app called SolAR. This app allows users to view planets in the solar system in 3D. It also has an AR feature where users can view a planet transposed into their surroundings. Both the 3D and AR features allow users to pan around the planet and view it from different angles, as well as as a video feature where users can view days simulated on the planet.
The app has easy to use menus that allow users to make changes to the scale of the planet, as well as view facts about each planet. The option to scale the planets is particularly useful so that the user can choose to see the scale of the planet in realistic proportion to a moon (or moons), or view the planet and surrounding moon(s) at a scale that is easier to see.
The main downside to this app experience is that, while the app is free to use, it requires a paid version to view any planets beyond mars in our solar system.
Another potential pitfall to this app is that I found that viewing planets in AR didn’t really bring any new information or experience that wasn’t already present in the 3D simulation. However I can see why the AR simulation would be engaging for children, and could potentially increase interest in learning about space.
Additionally, I felt that there could have been more UX interactions to allow users to find more facts and information about the planet. For example if users could tap on features of the planet to learn what they are called or what substance they are made of.
Overall this app was very well designed, thought out and simple to use. The AR simulation was seamless, because the planets are floating and solid they lend themselves well to being transposed into a users surroundings. This was a fun app to use and I could see it being useful as an educational tool to help students engage with planets in the solar system.