Measuring the Discernability of Virtual Objects in Conventional and Stylized Augmented Reality

In augmented reality, virtual graphical objects are overlaid over the real environment of the observer. Conventional augmented reality systems normally use standard real-time rendering methods for generating the graphical representations of virtual objects. These renderings contain the typical artifacts of computer generated graphics, e.g., aliasing caused by the rasterization process and unrealistic, manually configured illumination models. Due to these artifacts, virtual objects look artifical and can easily be distinguished from the real environment. A different approach to generating augmented reality images is the basis of stylized augmented reality [FBS05c]. Here, similar types of artistic or illustrative stylization are applied to the virtual objects and the camera image of the real enviroment. Therefore, real and virtual image elements look significantly more similar and are less distinguishable from each other. In this paper, we present the results of a psychophysical study on the effectiveness of stylized augmented reality. In this study, a number of participants were asked to decide whether objects shown in images of augmented reality scenes are virtual or real. Conventionally rendered as well as stylized augmented reality images and short video clips were presented to the participants. The correctness of the participants' responses and their reaction times were recorded. The results of our study show that an equalized level of realism is achieved by using stylized augmented reality, i.e., that it is significantly more difficult to distinguish virtual objects from real objects

Video Manipulation Techniques for the Protection of Privacy in Remote Presence Systems

Systems that give control of a mobile robot to a remote user raise privacy concerns about what the remote user can see and do through the robot. We aim to preserve some of that privacy by manipulating the video data that the remote user sees. Through two user studies, we explore the effectiveness of different video manipulation techniques at providing different types of privacy. We simultaneously examine task performance in the presence of privacy protection. In the first study, participants were asked to watch a video captured by a robot exploring an office environment and to complete a series of observational tasks under differing video manipulation conditions. Our results show that using manipulations of the video stream can lead to fewer privacy violations for different privacy types. Through a second user study, it was demonstrated that these privacy-protecting techniques were effective without diminishing the task performance of the remote user.Comment: 14 pages, 8 figure

Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality and their effect on learning style in the creative design process

Research has shown that user characteristics such as preference for using an interface can result in effective use of the interface. Research has also suggested that there is a relationship between learner preference and creativity. This study uses the VARK learning styles inventory to assess students learning style then explores how this learning preference affect the use of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) in the creative design process

Measuring the Discernability of Virtual Objects in Conventional and Stylized Augmented Reality

In augmented reality, virtual graphical objects are overlaid over the real environment of the observer. Conventional augmented reality systems normally use standard real-time rendering methods for generating the graphical representations of virtual objects. These renderings contain the typical artifacts of computer generated graphics, e.g., aliasing caused by the rasterization process and unrealistic, manually configured illumination models. Due to these artifacts, virtual objects look artifical and can easily be distinguished from the real environment. A different approach to generating augmented reality images is the basis of stylized augmented reality [FBS05c]. Here, similar types of artistic or illustrative stylization are applied to the virtual objects and the camera image of the real enviroment. Therefore, real and virtual image elements look significantly more similar and are less distinguishable from each other. In this paper, we present the results of a psychophysical study on the effectiveness of stylized augmented reality. In this study, a number of participants were asked to decide whether objects shown in images of augmented reality scenes are virtual or real. Conventionally rendered as well as stylized augmented reality images and short video clips were presented to the participants. The correctness of the participants ’ responses and their reaction times were recorded. The results of our study show that an equalized level of realism is achieved by using stylized augmented reality, i.e., that it is significantly more difficult to distinguish virtual objects from real objects. Categories and Subject Descriptors (according to ACM CCS): H.5.1 [Information Interfaces and Presentation]: Artificial, augmented, and virtual realities; I.3.3 [Computer Graphics]: Display algorithm

Avaliação de usabilidade de ambientes de realidade virtual e aumentada

Mestrado em Gestão da informaçãoEsta dissertação tem como principal objectivo verificar a possibilidade da utilização de métodos e técnicas de avaliação de usabilidade criados para ambientes 2D em ambientes de realidade virtual e aumentada. Para alcançar tal objectivo foi realizada uma revisão bibliográfica dos principais conceitos e características dos ambientes de realidade virtual e aumentada, dos princípios e paradigmas que regem a usabilidade e das principais formas de avaliação da mesma. Com base no levantamento bibliográfico foram desenvolvidas duas experiências: a primeira consistiu numa experiência controlada com o objectivo de comparar o desempenho dos utilizadores num jogo desenvolvido num ambiente de realidade virtual e num ambiente desktop. A segunda permitiu uma avaliação qualitativa que se baseou na opinião de vários utilizadores depois dos mesmos visualizarem dados das suas áreas de aplicação num ambiente de realidade aumentada e num desktop. Também foram observadas as diferenças entre as formas de visualização, manipulação e orientação nos vários ambientes utilizados. Apesar das características específicas que os ambientes de realidade virtual e aumentada possuem, tais como manipulação intuitiva, interacção natural, visualização em mais de duas dimensões e utilização de diferentes dispositivos de entrada e saída, uma das principais conclusões desta dissertação é a confirmação da possibilidade de utilização dos métodos gerais de avaliação de usabilidade 2D em ambientes de realidade virtual e aumentada. ABSTRACT: The main objective of this work is to verify the possibility to apply usability evaluation methods and techniques created for 2D environments in virtual and augmented reality. To achieve this objective, a bibliographic review was made to identify the main concepts and characteristics of virtual and augmented reality, the usability paradigms and principles and the typical usability evaluation methods. Based on this review, two different studies were performed: the first one consisted in a controlled experiment meant to compare users’ performances in a gaming scenario in a virtual reality environment and a desktop. The second study was qualitative and some feedback was obtained from domain experts who used an augmented reality set-up as well as a desktop in different data visualization scenarios. During these studies, the differences between the visualization, manipulation and orientation in both environments were also observed. Despite the specific characteristics of virtual and augmented reality environments, such as intuitive manipulation, natural interaction, visualization in more than two dimensions and use of several input and output devices, the overall conclusion is that it is possible to adapt and to use the usability evaluation methods developed for 2D in virtual and augmented reality environments