Showing papers by "Wayne Piekarski published in 1999"

Integrating virtual and augmented realities in an outdoor application

Abstract: This paper explores interconnecting outdoor AR systems with a VR system to achieve collaboration in both domains simultaneously. We envisage multiple mobile users of wearable AR systems interacting with a stationary VR facility via a wireless network. An application in simulated combat training is described, where the AR users are soldiers with wearable computers, and the VR system is located at a command and control centre. For soldiers, AR provides enhanced information about the battlefield environment, which may include the positions and attributes of simulated entities for the purpose of training outdoors at low cost. At the same time a complete picture of the battlefield, including real and simulated troops and vehicles, is available via the VR system. As soldiers move about, their GPS and digital compass hardware provide the remote VR user and other AR users with the means to track their position in real-time. We describe a working system based on our modular Tinmith-II wearable computer, which interacts with a combat simulator to create a synthetic battle environment for safe training and monitoring.

Using Augmented Reality to Visualise Architecture Designs in an Outdoor Environment

Abstract: This paper presents the use of a wearable computer system to visualise outdoor architectural features using augmented reality. The paper examines the question How does one visualise a design for a building, modification to a building, or extension to an existing building relative to its physical surroundings? The solution presented to this problem is to use a mobile augmented reality platform to visualise the design in spatial context of its final physical surroundings. The paper describes the mobile augmented reality platform TINMITH2 used in the investigation. The operation of the system is described through a detailed example of the system in operation. The system was used to visualise a simple extension to a building on one of the University of South Australia campuses.

An architecture for outdoor wearable computers to support augmented reality and multimedia applications

Abstract: This paper describes an architecture to support a hardware and software platform for research into the use of wearable computers and augmented reality in an outdoor environment. The architecture supports such devices as a GPS, compass, and head-mounted display. A prototype system was built to support novel applications by drawing graphics (such as maps, building plans, and compass bearings) on the head-mounted display, projecting information over that normally seen by the user and hence augmenting a user's perception of reality. This paper presents a set of novel augmented reality and multimedia applications operated in an outdoor environment.