From Everyday Technologies to Augmented Reality: An Autoethnographic Study of Presence and Engagement

Abstract: Digital technologies are reshaping how people experience their surroundings, often pulling focus toward virtual spaces and making it harder to stay present and engaged. Wearable augmented reality (AR), by embedding digital information into the physical world, may further immerse users in digital layers. Yet paradoxically, it also holds the potential to support presence and engagement. To explore this possibility, this study adopts an autoethnographic approach, providing a first-person perspective on how everyday technologies shape real-world engagement. Over four weeks, 20 experiences were documented, capturing interactions with phones, laptops, and fitness trackers in various contexts. The findings reveal nuanced patterns of technology use and propose design implications for wearable AR, emphasising its potential for personalised, context-aware interventions that support meaningful real-world connection. This work contributes to the discourse on digital well-being, suggesting that wearable AR can evolve beyond digital augmentation to help users reconnect with their surroundings.