Latency is the delay between an action or event and the system's response. In AR, it can affect how quickly the displayed content reacts to movement or input.
Why a small delay can be noticeable
When a visitor moves a phone, the digital overlay should respond promptly. If tracking, processing or rendering lags behind, the content may seem to trail the artwork. Head-worn experiences can be particularly sensitive to delayed visual responses.
Different delays need different fixes
Downloading an asset, recognising a target and drawing each frame are different stages. A faster connection may shorten loading without fixing slow rendering. A high frame rate does not by itself prove low end-to-end latency.
A Painta exhibition check
Test the published artwork on an ordinary visitor device, not only on the editing computer. Look at the first load, the moment the target is recognised and how the overlay behaves while the camera moves.
Improve the whole encounter
Keep media proportionate to the experience and use clear feedback while content loads. Report what was measured, on which device and in which conditions; avoid presenting one device's best result as universal performance.
Related concepts and further reading
Choosing an AR platform for art
Explore related 3D and spatial concepts
Frame Rate (FPS) explains how frequently images update and why a high average alone does not establish a low response delay.