Enhancing User Role in Augmented Reality Interactive Simulations

Abstract

Recent hardware and software improvements fuelled the developing of innovative methodologies for achieving interactive simulations in augmented reality environments. These new approaches have changed the role of the user which is not more a simple spectator of the scene, but he is an active protagonist, altering the contents and taking part into simulation. All these enhancements have deeply modified the concept of augmented reality and have opened new scenarios for future applications in different technical and entertainment fields. The purpose of the chapter is to present recent methodologies for implementing high-interactive augmented reality simulations. In a first part, the chapter describes the most important approaches underling architectures, tangible interfaces, system-related and user-related aspects. Then, the chapter focuses on the emerging natural interface concept which allows to interpret the intent of the user without the use of additional tracking devices. This methodology is suitable for didactical, entertainment and technical applications and experimental tests are presented in order to evaluate the relating human factor as usability, accuracy, robustness, training difficulties, realism in comparison with standard methodologies.