Auggie: Encouraging Effortful Communication through Handcrafted Digital Experiences

Digital communication is often brisk and automated. From auto-completed messages to "likes," research has shown that such lightweight interactions can affect perceptions of authenticity closeness. On the other hand, effort in relationships forge emotional bonds by conveying a sense caring essential building maintaining relationships. To explore effortful communication, we designed evaluated Auggie, an iOS app encourages partners create digitally handcrafted Augmented Reality (AR) experiences for each other. Auggie centered around crafting 3D character with photos, animated movements, drawings, audio someone else. We conducted two-week-long field study 30 participants (15 pairs), who used their remotely. Our qualitative findings show engaged meaningful through handcrafting process, felt closer partners, although tool may not be appropriate all situations. discuss design implications future directions systems encourage communication.