should you surprise spatial personas

When designing experiences with spatial Personas in SharePlay, it is generally recommended to avoid surprising users with unexpected changes to their spatial Persona templates. Here are some key points to consider:

1. Use Familiar Templates: System templates are recommended over custom ones because they provide a familiar and comfortable experience for users. They also adapt automatically to the number of participants, ensuring a smooth experience even when participants join or leave (Customize spatial Persona templates in SharePlay).

2. Minimize Template Transitions: Frequent changes to templates, such as moving or rotating seats, can be disorienting. It's best to minimize these transitions and provide visual context clues to help participants orient themselves whenever a transition is necessary (Customize spatial Persona templates in SharePlay).

3. Consider Non-Spatial Persona Users: Ensure that your experience supports participants who are not using spatial Personas, as they might be on platforms without support for them or might toggle their spatial Persona off during the activity (Customize spatial Persona templates in SharePlay).

4. Provide Adequate Space: Ensure there is enough space between seats (at least 1 meter) to avoid crowding and to prevent spatial Personas from disappearing and being replaced with static contact photos (Customize spatial Persona templates in SharePlay).

By following these guidelines, you can create a more comfortable and predictable experience for users, avoiding surprises that could disrupt their engagement with your app.