ARI (Added Reality Interface)

The ARI (Added Reality Interface) is an experimental evidence detecting system in place by the FBI. Investigator Norman Jayden is one of the select agents testing the device, and uses it to investigate crime scenes, contain and order his case files, and enhance his working environments. ARI plays a crucial part during Norman's time investigating the Origami Killer.
==Use==
The ARI equipment consists of a pair of glasses and a singular, right-handed glove. The glasses, acting as an enhancement visor, are used to detect and record information from the environment whilst providing visual displays for the user. The glove allows the user to physically interact with ARI's interface and the environment; this allows Norman to stream information via sensors in the glove, allowing research on things such as blood type, shoe size and identifying scents in the air. Norman is also able to make the ARI respond to inputs made with his left hand, such as when he pulls down the map, indicating that he is controlling the database mentally. It is unknown if this is typical of all ARI equipment or a possible side-effect of Norman's overuse. All gathered information is installed directly into ARI's internal memory, which can be reviewed at any place or time. ARI also has instant access to the FBI database, evident when Norman scans a dead cat, only to note "A dead cat. The FBI doesn't keep records of dead cats..."
Whilst ARI's primary use is for crime scenes, it can also be used in other environments. For example, use indoors allows Norman to search through case files, examine evidence, and apply data to a geographic map. ARI can even be used recreationally, such as for virtual reality games (such as a holographic version of handball, among others), and generating simulations of environments.
==Experimental Nature==
It is suggested that ARI, due to it still being an experimental prototype, may cause a form of addiction or obsession in users. Subtle hints exist that Norman may have an obsession with the device; his cumulative score in Ball is over 20,000, which suggests that he is abusing ARI for trivial reasons. Later into the plot, visible signs of physical damage, such as bleeding eyes, are seen if he spends a prolonged amount of time in ARI.
Extensive use of the interface is implied to cause brain damage. Norman is noted to have difficulty distinguishing reality from virtual reality, as shown in "Jayden Blues" if Ethan evaded arrest, where he suffers vivid hallucinations superimposed over his hotel room. In "Solving the Puzzle," the artificial environment becomes more aggressive the longer he spends examining evidence. If the player fails to solve the case or exit the ARI in time, Norman will die. Additionally, two of his endings show him continuing to hallucinate even without the glasses on.
Triptocaine is used to control the side effects of overusing ARI. Norman's hallucinations typically follow lengthy sessions in ARI, and he often checks to ensure a vial of Triptocaine is on his person before using the device. Harry's warnings of over-indulgence can be taken as a reference to ARI, Triptocaine, or both.
Development notes for Norman's cancelled Heavy Rain Chronicles episode reveal that he was in a relationship with Jack Reilly, a colleague and fellow ARI user.https://mobile.twitter.com/jamsdbh/status/1532880587589132288?s=46&t=xBDHpAzOvzoIsUCXFHuUvA Reilly was also involved with presenting the prototype to the FBI. The notes mention that Reilly also misused ARI for trivial reasons prior to his death, and he revealed to Norman that he was also addicted to Triptocaine. While his death was initially thought to be a suicide, Norman discovered that Reilly was killed as part of a cover-up after he planned to publicly disclose the negative side effects of ARI and/or Triptocaine.
==Symptoms==
The game itself never clarifies which symptoms can be attributed to Norman's Triptocaine use and which can be attributed to prolonged use of ARI. However, analyzing the patterns in which these symptoms manifest shows that many of them are actually due to ARI use.ARI vs Tripto Symptoms Chart
* Bloodshot eyes: Norman is seen with bloodshot eyes while or after using ARI, once in "Jayden Blues" and again in "Solving the Puzzle."
* Hallucinations: Norman suffers from vivid hallucinations immediately after removing the ARI glasses in "Jayden Blues" (provided Ethan evaded arrest). He also suffers from (milder) hallucinations in "Case Closed" with and without the glasses on. In "Smoking Mirror," he sees the ARI environment without wearing his glasses, similar to the hallucinations he had in "Jayden Blues." This would suggest that it is a product of ARI overuse.
* Headaches: Norman is sometimes seen clutching his head as if in pain just after using ARI.
* Hemorrhaging: Norman frequently suffers nosebleeds after using ARI. In "Jayden Blues," this occurs right after he removes the glasses, but in "Mad Jack," its onset is delayed. This may be due to him already suffering from Triptocaine withdrawal in the latter chapter before using ARI; in the former, the withdrawal only occurs after ARI use. In "Solving the Puzzle," Norman's eyes begin to bleed if he spends a prolonged amount of time in ARI, even after he has taken Triptocaine to mitigate his symptoms. If he spends too long in the interface, his nose bleeds just before he dies. In "Smoking Mirror," Norman experiences a much more severe nosebleed before dying.
* Hypertension: Several of Norman's symptoms (headaches, blurred vision, fatigue, vertigo, and pale skin) indicate abnormally high spikes in blood pressure.
* Vertigo: In "Welcome, Norman," Norman becomes dizzy and loses his balance immediately after exiting ARI, to the point he has difficulty walking and standing upright. This happens again in "Jayden Blues" and "Mad Jack" (note that the onset of dizziness is delayed in the latter chapter). He can take Triptocaine in all three cases, but is not required to. This, combined with the onset of his symptoms, suggests it is not a direct result of withdrawal.
==Epilogues==
Case Closed - Norman closes several files in ARI, but continues to see digital projections of tanks after removing the glasses, implying he is continuing to suffer from hallucinations. It is not known if Norman stops using ARI after this point, nor is it known if the side effects of overuse are permanent.
Smoking Mirror - Norman is seen in an ARI environment, though his glasses are absent. He confides in an unseen "psychiatrist" that he is continuing to take Triptocaine, both to control his overuse symptoms and as a way to forget the events of the case. He then realizes he is actually speaking to a digital duplicate of himself, which informs him that all the Triptocaine and/or ARI abuse has affected him more seriously than he thinks. Norman is then found dead following a fatal overdose of Triptocaine.
Uploaded - The most confusing of Norman's epilogues. Norman's death means that Carter Blake acquires his ARI glasses and, upon wearing them, suffers a vivid hallucination of Norman. It isn't confirmed if Norman's overuse has caused ARI to partially duplicate his personality (akin to the "Smoking Mirror" epilogue), or if it is just Blake suffering similar side effects.
==Gallery==
File:ARI Environment 1.jpg|Concept art of the ARI forest environment by François Baranger
File:ARI Environment 2.jpg|Concept art of the ARI plateau environment by François Baranger
File:ARI Environment 3.jpg|Concept art of Norman in the ARI plateau environment by François Baranger
File:Ariwater.png|Concept art of the ARI sea environment by Benoit Godde
File:Arimars.png|Concept art of the ARI Martian environment by Benoit Godde
File:ARI Glove.jpg|Concept art of the ARI glove by François Baranger
File:ARI.jpg|The ARI glasses
File:Arie3.png|An early version of the ARI interface in the E3 trailer
File:ARI Sea Environment.png|ARI sea environment
File:ARI Forest Environment.png|ARI forest environment
File:ARI Martian Environment.png|ARI Martian environment
File:ARI Plateau Environment.png|ARI plateau
==Videos==
File:Heavy Rain - Norman Jayden use ARI for wasting time. PS3 (HD)
File:Heavy Rain - ARI
==References==
it:ARI (Added Reality Interface)
pl:IRD (Interfejs Rzeczywistości Dodanej)
ru:УРС (Устройство Расширения Сознания)
Category:Gameplay
Category:Heavy Rain Chronicles