Unveiling Augmented Reality Applications: Exploring Influential Factors Through Comprehensive Review

Abstract

This comprehensive systematic study aimed to review the contemporary influential factors in augmented reality (AR) applications. The selection of relevant articles was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, with databases, such as IEEE Xplore, Scopus, Wiley Online Library, Emerald Insight, and ScienceDirect, being utilized. A total of 69 articles were analyzed, resulting in the identification and analysis of 207 unique factors. The findings revealed that in 2018, AR researchers were particularly interested in passion and competition, while in 2019, their focus shifted toward awareness, expectations, and technology. The year 2020 highlighted the prominence of the visual component compared to other factors. Notably, in 2021, the factor of experience gained significant popularity amidst the widespread impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis of existing theoretical models demonstrated that the combination of enjoyment, interactivity, system quality, escapism, innovativeness, and facilitating conditions yielded the most advantageous outcomes. Additionally, the study identified 23 association rules that underscored the relationships between the investigated factors. Hypothesis testing confirmed 489 hypotheses, while 133 assumptions were disproven. Enjoyment emerged as a reliable independent variable for various outcomes, including satisfaction, attitude, and utility. Moreover, usability, engagement, satisfaction, and flow were found to be potential indicators of enjoyment. Satisfaction, frequently employed as an independent variable, was predicted and validated by factors, such as benefits, education, entertainment, visual appeal, quality, and satisfaction itself. This study provides valuable insights for scholars as a basis for further research in the field of augmented reality or as a reference to validate their own findings © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.