Mobile Augmented Reality Application for Early Childhood Learning Technical Design and Functional Evaluation

Engaging and immersive learning media are crucial in early childhood education, where traditional methods often struggle to capture young learners’ attention and convey complex concepts interactively. This study addresses this challenge by focusing on the technical design and functional evaluation of a mobile application that leverages Augmented Reality (AR) to create interactive 3D visualizations for teaching transportation concepts to kindergarten children. The object of the study is an Android-based AR application developed following a structured Augmented Reality Development Framework, utilizing industry-standard tools such as Unity for the engine, Vuforia for marker-based tracking, and Blender for 3D model configuration. A fundamental functional testing approach was employed to systematically assess the application’s performance, specifically evaluating marker detection accuracy, 3D model animation, and overall feature responsiveness across various environmental conditions and device orientations. Key findings indicate that marker design, particularly color richness and visual detail, significantly influences recognition stability and distance performance, with an optimal camera-to-marker distance identified between 10 to 35 cm. Furthermore, the intricacy of 3D models and their animations directly impacted loading times, while stable marker placement and adequate lighting were critical for consistent AR visualization. These results underscore the vital role of technical considerations in developing robust and effective mobile AR learning tools, providing valuable insights for future enhancements aimed at improving both the functionality and usability of AR applications in early childhood education. This work concludes by highlighting the need for future user-based evaluations to assess educational impact and cross-platform compatibility.