Motivation
Augmented reality (AR) is a technology that displays digital information overlaid in real space. It is known that this technology can improve working efficiency (speed, accuracy, ease of understanding, workload, etc.) instead of paper procedure manuals. In recent years, excellent AR hardware technologies have emerged, and combined with application development software, AR systems can be easily developed without special skills. However, we believe that the system cannot be expected to get full efficiency with AR for task support systems unless the “AR information design.” This design is to decide how to inform working information clearly to the operators who use the AR system. This website supports AR information design to enable all users (system designers) to create high-quality AR systems.
Notes: Currently, there is no destination for the XML file that this site will finally output. Therefore, please use it as a reference for designing your own AR task support system.
AR system example
Structure of information presented to the operator
Main panel
This panel presents the minimum amount of information necessary for the operator to complete the task using text, images, and video. (The operator can perform the task by placing this panel in the work environment or around his/her body.)
Auxiliary information
This information assists the operator in completing the tasks efficiently using 3D models, animations, and other content. (This website supports the selection of suitable visualization methods used in this information.)
Position of Dr. AR
in the creating flow of the AR system
The user (system designer) will perform the AR information design for an AR system based on his/her working procedure manual. The results of the information design are then output as an XML file for use in the AR system development tool*.
(*Notes: Currently, we are creating this tool. so you cannot use the XML file to create AR systems.)
- Input: Content of working procedure manual.
- Output: XML format file that summarizes the result of AR information design.
AR information design
Many visualization methods have been developed to support various tasks. Each method has its characteristics and must be selected in consideration of the work and system conditions to obtain the best performance. This website assists users in selecting the most suitable visualization method from among the many methods for each detailed step in the procedures.
The 3D model and animation files used in the selected visualization methods and their position and orientation information will be input into the AR system development tool. Therefore, there will be no input regarding these on this website.
Position of this website user
- Website user:
A person who wants to create an AR task-support system from a procedure manual. Or, a person who wants to design the AR system and then ask an AR expert to develop the system. - AR system developer:
A person who develops an AR task-support system with an Integrated development environment (IDE) or AR authoring tools based on the AR information design materials. - A user of the created AR system:
An operator who works in factories
