User evaluation of see-through vision for mobile outdoor augmented reality

• Main Authors: Avery, Benjamin, Thomas, Bruce H., Piekarski, Wayne
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Subjects: Accuracy; Applied computing > Computers in other domains > Personal computers and PC applications; Augmented reality; Buildings; Cameras; Computing methodologies > Artificial intelligence > Computer vision; Computing methodologies > Artificial intelligence > Computer vision > Computer vision tasks > Scene understanding; Computing methodologies > Computer graphics > Graphics systems and interfaces > Virtual reality; Computing methodologies > Modeling and simulation > Model development and analysis; Computing methodologies > Modeling and simulation > Model development and analysis > Model verification and validation; Computing methodologies > Modeling and simulation > Model development and analysis > Modeling methodologies; Human-centered computing > Human computer interaction (HCI) > Interaction paradigms > Mixed > augmented reality; Human-centered computing > Human computer interaction (HCI) > Interaction paradigms > Virtual reality; I.3.6 [Computer Graphics]: Methodology and Techniques - Interaction Techniques; I.3.7 [Computer Graphics]: Three-Dimensional Graphics and Realism - Virtual Reality; Image-based Rendering; Occlusion; Outdoor Augmented Reality; Streaming media; Telepresence; Three dimensional displays; Visualization; Wearable Computers
• DOI: 10.1109/ISMAR.2008.4637327

We have developed a system built on our mobile AR platform that provides users with see-through vision, allowing visualization of occluded objects textured with real-time video information. We present a user study that evaluates the user’s ability to view this information and understand the appearance of an outdoor area occluded by a building while using a mobile AR computer. This understanding was compared against a second group of users who watched video footage of the same outdoor area on a regular computer monitor. The comparison found an increased accuracy in locating specific points from the scene for the outdoor AR participants. The outdoor participants also displayed more accurate results, and showed better speed improvement than the indoor group when viewing more than one video simultaneously.