Step 4: Add Visual Feedback and Improve User Experience (UX)

Up to now, users can tap to place an object in the AR scene — but without clear visual cues, the interaction can feel uncertain or unintuitive. In this step, we’ll add real-time placement indicators and simple UX improvements to make your AR app more user-friendly and polished.

Why Visual Feedback Matters in AR

Augmented Reality happens in an open, uncontrolled environment — users need visual signals that tell them:

• The app is working

• A surface is detected

• The object is ready to be placed

• Their touch action did something

Adding a placement indicator helps reduce confusion and makes the experience feel smoother and more responsive.

1. Create a Placement Indicator

You can use a simple flat 3D object like a circular plane or a ring-shaped sprite.

• In Unity, Create → 3D Object → Plane
  Scale it down (e.g., 0.1, 0.01, 0.1)
  Apply a transparent material or glowing texture

• Name it PlacementIndicator

You can also use PNG images or particle effects for a more modern look.

2. Update the AR Tap Script for Real-Time Indicator

public class ARPlacementIndicator : MonoBehaviour
{
public GameObject placementIndicator;
public ARRaycastManager raycastManager;

private Pose placementPose;
private bool placementPoseIsValid = false;
private List<ARRaycastHit> hits = new List<ARRaycastHit>();

void Update()
{
UpdatePlacementPose();
UpdatePlacementIndicator();
}

private void UpdatePlacementPose()
{
var screenCenter = Camera.current.ViewportToScreenPoint(new Vector3(0.5f, 0.5f));
raycastManager.Raycast(screenCenter, hits, TrackableType.Planes);

placementPoseIsValid = hits.Count > 0;
if (placementPoseIsValid)
{
placementPose = hits[0].pose;
}
}

private void UpdatePlacementIndicator()
{
if (placementPoseIsValid)
{
placementIndicator.SetActive(true);
placementIndicator.transform.SetPositionAndRotation(placementPose.position, placementPose.rotation);
}
else
{
placementIndicator.SetActive(false);}}}

3. Combine With Touch-Based Object Placement

Once your indicator is working, you can update your object placement script to instantiate the object at the location of the indicator, not wherever the screen is tapped.

This creates a more natural and accurate placement experience.