Augmented Reality: A New Visualisation Method for GIS

I gave a presentation at CASA at UCL.
As ubiquitous computing and pervasive computing have become more and more implemented in our lives, we have become surrounded by more intelligent objects, and this has made our environment more complex. There are a lot of limitations to using current geovisualization techniques in trying to visualise such a complex real world. Augmented reality can be a promising technology to overcome this limitation, because augmented reality can provide dynamic and very realistic 3D virtual views.

This presentation was about my research background, introducing augmented reality, and some experimental studies about using tag-based augmented reality such as ARTag, as well as mobile augmented reality such as Layar.

Augmented Reality: A New Geovisualisation Method for GIS

View more presentations from Sung Hyun Jang.

Augmented reality: InvenSense (Motion-sensing for mobile phones)

When we talk about ubiquitous computing (or pervasive computing), user interface is an important factor in order to provide an immersive intelligent environment. The method of interaction between human and computer has not changed for a long time since mouse and keyboard become a major interaction method. There have been several attempts to develop a new interface such as voice recognition, motion sensing, and so on. Ultimately, the future interface between human and computer will be the non-interface which means disappearing all interfaces that we are using now. An intelligent environment (ubiquitous environment) detects user's motion, thinking, or behaviour pattern and provides a service that the user needs before the user ask.
Here is a video clip about the motion sensing interface for mobile phones. It seems to detect the user's motion very well. The key issue of motion sensing interface is how to precisely detect the user motion and reduce unexpected operating from the user's extraneous actions.

Enhanced vision system : GM Augmented Reality

The Augmented Reality field is getting more exciting. American car maker General Motors (GM) has introduced a new augmented reality display windshield called "enhanced vision system." This augmented reality system detects the driver's position and perspective and displays important objects such as road signs and buildings to which he or she is aiming to go.
It is still at the prototype level. However, you can have a car navigation system that is displayed on your car windshield. This kind of augmented reality display system provides a safer driving environment because the driver can pay attention to the road ahead while driving instead of looking at a navigation device on-screen.

Augmented reality: AR Map

Tag-based augmented reality was one of the more widely used augmented reality platforms. There are two well-known augmented reality libraries, namely ARToolKit and ARTag. These two libraries are open source and support multiple platforms.

This video clip is an augmented reality application which uses ARTag. The application is called AR Map.

Augmented Reality: AR Map from GIS plus AR on Vimeo.

Augmented reality: UCL in Layar

Layar has become a major platform for individual mobile augmented reality application developers.
Here is a video clip showing University College London (UCL) buildings in Layar.
In order to put UCL building information into Layar, I stored location information for each UCL building, as well as images, website, and phone numbers on my server.
This is a good example to show how mobile augmented reality should be combined with Location Based Service (LBS).

UCL in Layar from Sung Hyun Jang on Vimeo.