Effectiveness of augmented reality technology in improving navigation performance: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Siu Shing Man; Peiqi Su; Chang Xiao; Hong Yun; Alan Hoi Shou Chan

doi:10.1080/00140139.2025.2554243

Effectiveness of augmented reality technology in improving navigation performance: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Siu Shing Man, Peiqi Su, Chang Xiao, Hong Yun^*, Alan Hoi Shou Chan

^*Corresponding author for this work

CityUHK Shenzhen Research Institute

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Augmented reality (AR) integrates virtual objects in the real world, allowing users to interact intuitively with navigation information. This study systematically reviewed 13 articles on AR technology published from 2005 to 2024 through meta-analysis, comprising a total of 400 participants, to examine its effectiveness in enhancing navigation performance. Compared with traditional navigation tools, the results showed that AR technology more effectively enhances navigation performance, with the overall effect size calculated as 0.554 (95% CI = 0.404-0.704; p < 0.001). The effect on wayfinding performance (SMD = 0.992) was considerably larger compared to driving navigation performance (SMD = 0.246) and spatial knowledge performance (SMD = 0.274). The mean age significantly positively affected the effectiveness of AR technology (Z = 2.670; p < 0.05). The results promote the development and application of AR technology and increase its adoption amongst the elderly. © 2025 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Original language	English
Number of pages	16
Journal	Ergonomics
Online published	6 Sept 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/00140139.2025.2554243
Publication status	Online published - 6 Sept 2025

Funding

This work was supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (2022YFB4500604), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (72301110), the Philosophy and Social Science Planning Project of Guangdong Province (GD25YYS35 and GD23XLN31), the Philosophy and Social Science Developing Project of Guangzhou City (2022GZQN48) the Guangzhou Municipal Science and Technology Bureau (2024A04J2279), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (QNMS202418) and the Guangdong Provincial General College Youth Innovation Talent Project (2023WQNCX006).

Research Keywords

augmented reality
navigation performance
navigation
systematic review
meta-analysis

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COPYRIGHT TERMS OF DEPOSITED POSTPRINT FILE: This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Ergonomics on 6 Sept 2025, available online: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00140139.2025.2554243

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title = "Effectiveness of augmented reality technology in improving navigation performance: a systematic review and meta-analysis",

abstract = "Augmented reality (AR) integrates virtual objects in the real world, allowing users to interact intuitively with navigation information. This study systematically reviewed 13 articles on AR technology published from 2005 to 2024 through meta-analysis, comprising a total of 400 participants, to examine its effectiveness in enhancing navigation performance. Compared with traditional navigation tools, the results showed that AR technology more effectively enhances navigation performance, with the overall effect size calculated as 0.554 (95% CI = 0.404-0.704; p < 0.001). The effect on wayfinding performance (SMD = 0.992) was considerably larger compared to driving navigation performance (SMD = 0.246) and spatial knowledge performance (SMD = 0.274). The mean age significantly positively affected the effectiveness of AR technology (Z = 2.670; p < 0.05). The results promote the development and application of AR technology and increase its adoption amongst the elderly. {\textcopyright} 2025 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.",

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author = "Man, {Siu Shing} and Peiqi Su and Chang Xiao and Hong Yun and Chan, {Alan Hoi Shou}",

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T2 - a systematic review and meta-analysis

AU - Man, Siu Shing

AU - Su, Peiqi

AU - Xiao, Chang

AU - Yun, Hong

AU - Chan, Alan Hoi Shou

PY - 2025/9/6

Y1 - 2025/9/6

N2 - Augmented reality (AR) integrates virtual objects in the real world, allowing users to interact intuitively with navigation information. This study systematically reviewed 13 articles on AR technology published from 2005 to 2024 through meta-analysis, comprising a total of 400 participants, to examine its effectiveness in enhancing navigation performance. Compared with traditional navigation tools, the results showed that AR technology more effectively enhances navigation performance, with the overall effect size calculated as 0.554 (95% CI = 0.404-0.704; p < 0.001). The effect on wayfinding performance (SMD = 0.992) was considerably larger compared to driving navigation performance (SMD = 0.246) and spatial knowledge performance (SMD = 0.274). The mean age significantly positively affected the effectiveness of AR technology (Z = 2.670; p < 0.05). The results promote the development and application of AR technology and increase its adoption amongst the elderly. © 2025 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

AB - Augmented reality (AR) integrates virtual objects in the real world, allowing users to interact intuitively with navigation information. This study systematically reviewed 13 articles on AR technology published from 2005 to 2024 through meta-analysis, comprising a total of 400 participants, to examine its effectiveness in enhancing navigation performance. Compared with traditional navigation tools, the results showed that AR technology more effectively enhances navigation performance, with the overall effect size calculated as 0.554 (95% CI = 0.404-0.704; p < 0.001). The effect on wayfinding performance (SMD = 0.992) was considerably larger compared to driving navigation performance (SMD = 0.246) and spatial knowledge performance (SMD = 0.274). The mean age significantly positively affected the effectiveness of AR technology (Z = 2.670; p < 0.05). The results promote the development and application of AR technology and increase its adoption amongst the elderly. © 2025 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

KW - augmented reality

KW - navigation performance

KW - navigation

KW - systematic review

KW - meta-analysis

UR - https://www.webofscience.com/wos/woscc/full-record/WOS:001567509900001

U2 - 10.1080/00140139.2025.2554243

DO - 10.1080/00140139.2025.2554243

M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal

SN - 0014-0139

JO - Ergonomics

JF - Ergonomics

ER -

Effectiveness of augmented reality technology in improving navigation performance: a systematic review and meta-analysis

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Research Keywords

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