This paper describes a modular framework developed to facilitate the design space exploration of cross-device Augmented Reality (AR) interfaces that combine an AR head-mounted display (HMD) with a smartphone. Currently, there is a growing interest in how AR HMDs can be used with smartphones to improve the user’s AR experience. In this work, we describe a framework that enables rapid prototyping and evaluation of an interface. Our system enables different modes of interaction, content placement, and simulated AR HMD field of view to assess which combination is best suited to inform future researchers on design recommendations. We provide examples of how the framework could be used to create sample applications, the types of the studies which could be supported, and example results from a simple pilot study.

Augmented Reality (AR) systems, which utilize optical see-through head-mounted displays, are becoming more common place, with several consumer level options already available, and the promise of additional, more advanced, devices on the horizon. A common factor among current generation optical see-through devices, though, is fixed focal distance to virtual content. While fixed focus is not a concern for video see-through AR, since both virtual and real world imagery are combined into a single image by the display, unequal distances between real world objects and the virtual display screen in optical see-through AR is unavoidable. In this work, we investigate the issue of focus blur, in particular, the blurring caused by simultaneously viewing virtual content and physical objects in the environment at differing focal distances. We additionally examine the application of dynamic sharpening filters as a straight forward, system independent, means for mitigating this effect improving the clarity of defocused AR content. We assess the utility of this method, termed SharpView, by employing an adjustment experiment in which users actively apply varying amounts of sharpening to reduce the perception of blur in AR content shown at four focal disparity levels relative to real world imagery. Our experimental results confirm that dynamic correction schemes are required for adequately addressing the presence of blur in Optical See-Through AR. Furthermore, we validate the ability of our SharpView model to improve the perceived visual clarity of focus blurred content, with optimal performance at focal differences well suited for near field AR applications.

Augmented Reality (AR) superimposes computer graphics (CG) onto a user’s view of the real world. A key quality problem in this field is to achieve coherence between reality and CG when the user’s eyes refocus or change pupil size. We designed and evaluated a display that improves coherence by measuring the user’s eye state and continuously adapting CG accordingly. Our tabletop prototype emulates an Optical See-Through Head-Mounted Display, a common AR display device. In our evaluation, participants observed three pillars at different depths. We then challenged them to identify a virtual pillar among the three while freely refocusing their eyes. Results show that our design significantly improved realism. Compared to Light Field Displays, our design aims to simplify display-optics while providing similar quality. We could only partially achieve this goal. We discuss the lessons we learned and how we plan to overcome the remaining challenges. The experimental protocol from our evaluation is useful for display developers as it can be used to measure the coherence of a display.

Over the recent years, research in sophisticated Augmented Reality (AR) X-Ray visualization techniques such as [Dey and Sandor 2014] that permit the user to see through real-world objects have created the possibility for mobile applications to show occluded information in an innovative and intuitive fashion. A popular application is navigation assistance in inner city environments. We think that Google Glass, a hands-free, wearable mobile device, which allows immediate access to web services, is a promising platform for such X-Ray systems.