In 1997, Azuma published a survey on augmented reality (AR). Our goal is to complement, rather than replace, the original survey by presenting representative examples of the new advances. We refer one to the original survey for descriptions of potential applications (such as medical visualization, maintenance and repair of complex equipment, annotation, and path planning); summaries of AR system characteristics (such as the advantages and disadvantages of optical and video approaches to blending virtual and real, problems in display focus and contrast, and system portability); and an introduction to the crucial problem of registration, including sources of registration error and error-reduction strategies.

https://www.cc.gatech.edu/~blair/papers/ARsurveyCGA.pdf

Recent advances in augmented reality

An introduction to the Kalman filter

In 1960, R.E. Kalman published his famous paper describing a recursive solution to the discrete-data linear filtering problem. Since that time, due in large part to advances in digital computing, the Kalman filter has been the subject of extensive research and application, particularly in the area of autonomous or assisted navigation. The Kalman filter is a set of mathematical equations that provides an efficient computational (recursive) means to estimate the state of a process, in a way that minimizes the mean of the squared error. The filter is very powerful in several aspects: it supports estimations of past, present, and even future states, and it can do so even when the precise nature of the modeled system is unknown. The purpose of this paper is to provide a practical introduction to the discrete Kalman filter. This introduction includes a description and some discussion of the basic discrete Kalman filter, a derivation, description and some discussion of the extended Kalman filter, and a relatively simple (tangible) example with real numbers & results.

/pdf/an-introduction-to-the-kalman-filter-4na56gymup.pdf

An Introduction to the Kalman Filter

We describe an augmented reality conferencing system which uses the overlay of virtual images on the real world. Remote collaborators are represented on virtual monitors which can be freely positioned about a user in space. Users can collaboratively view and interact with virtual objects using a shared virtual whiteboard. This is possible through precise virtual image registration using fast and accurate computer vision techniques and head mounted display (HMD) calibration. We propose a method for tracking fiducial markers and a calibration method for optical see-through HMD based on the marker tracking.

/pdf/marker-tracking-and-hmd-calibration-for-a-video-based-44oiw0a2ha.pdf

Marker tracking and HMD calibration for a video-based augmented reality conferencing system

Automatic generation and detection of highly reliable fiducial markers under occlusion

Computer Animation and Visualization - Current Status and Trends

Interactive Rendering of Natural Phenomena with Directed Cyclic Graphs

In the last years, new input and output devices have noticeable impact on Computer Animation and Visualization. Head mounted displays, data gloves, and other devices allow to built immersive user interfaces. The number of virtual reality applications has dramatically increased. This new kind of systems generates not only new possibilities but also new problems to be solved. Among them are real-time rendering, motion estimation and prediction, animation techniques like autonomous actors, new three-dimensional interaction techniques, and architectures that embody clear concepts and software engineering methodologies for such kind of systems. We analyze a number of existing systems that illustrate what we believe are core concepts and difficulties to be overcome. and we attempt to formulate the state of the art in this field.

Animation and Visualization - Current Status and Trends.

The exhibit installation “Virtual Gutenberg’s Printing Press” helps people to understand the Gutenberg’s invention using State-of-the-Art augmented reality technology. The functionality of the Gutenberg’s printing press is shown in a user-friendly way, with presentation technology completely hidden from visitor experience and using real objects as user interface. Visitors can simulate the book printing using only real world objects such as tweezers, letter case, coloring unit, and printing press. The installation consists of three main stations – setting, coloring and printing. Additionally there is a huge display in front of the stations showing the whole process using stereo projection. The main idea is to show the people, living in an information era, the principle of the invention that made it possible to widely distribute information for the first time – the book printing.

/pdf/virtual-gutenberg-s-printing-press-xob41r3mvu.pdf

Michael Gervautz

Papers

Computer Animation and Visualization - Current Status and Trends

Interactive Rendering of Natural Phenomena with Directed Cyclic Graphs

Animation and Visualization - Current Status and Trends.

Virtual Gutenberg’s Printing Press