A Brief Introduction to Augmented Reality

IE 5433 Nov 2008

Trond Nilsen

What is it?

• Overlaying virtual imagery on the real world

• Merging the real and the virtual

• Simultaneous interaction

A Brief History (1)

• 1960s – Sutherland & Sproull’s first HMD

A Brief History (2)

• 1970s / 1980s – USAF helmet displays, Super cockpit (Furness)

A Brief History (3)

• Early 1990s – Boeing wire harness assembly application.• Early to mid 1990s – UNC ultrasound visualization project

AR – Brief History (4)

• Early 2000s : Outdoor AR ARToolkit / Magic BookApplications!

AR - Applications• Many applications,

Engineering Archaeology Medicine Architecture Visualization Military

Video – AR Pancho

How?

• Two main problemsTracking the real worldDisplaying the virtual objects

• Variety of technology solutions for each problem

Tracking• Magnetic

Fast and accurate Expensive, normally requires setup

• Inertial Cheap and somewhat inaccurate Must be frequently recalibrated

• Computer Vision Range of techniques Reasonably accurate Cheap

Tracking• Mechanical

Potentially very accurate Attached to device Works well in conjunction with haptic feedback

• Ultrasound Potentially accurate, May suffer from interference

• GPS Suitable for outdoor AR

• Hybrid solutions

How? Displays!

Is it realistic?

• Delay• Rendering quality• Lighting• Error• Non-tangible• Mediated video

Video – AR Relight

ARToolKit

Reality / Virtuality Continuum

AR – Transitional Interfaces

• Interfaces that move you along the continuum• Supports egocentric and exocentric views

Exocentric - View from above Egocentric - View from within Appropriate for different tasks

AR - Collaboration

Wide variety of cues used when communicating

SpeechParalinguisticParaverbalsProsodicsIntonation

AudioGazeGestureFace ExpressionBody Position

Visual

Object ManipulationWriting/DrawingSpatial RelationshipObject PresenceContact

Environmental

AR - Collaboration• Face-to-face collaboration

People surround a table It is easy to see each other

• Computer collaboration People sit side by side It is hard to see each other

AR - Collaboration

• Attributes: Virtuality Augmentation Cooperation Independence Individuality

• Seamless Interaction• Natural Communication• Role division• Privacy

AR – Hybrid User Interfaces

AR – Magic Lenses

• Developed at Xerox PARC in 1993• View a region of the workspace differently to the rest

Not limited to magnification

AR – Magic Lens• Focus + Context – two data sets

Direct comparison of differing data sets in situ

• Selection

AR Gaming

Gaming - ARQuake• Developed by Wayne Piekarski & Bruce Thomas at University of South Australia• Modified version of Quake for Tinmith Outdoor AR system

Gaming – AR Tankwar

Video – AR Tankwar