Development of a Ski Instruction System Using Augmented Reality Technology

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to report on a ski instruction system using augmented reality （AR） technology that can display animated model demonstrations and give advice with an artificial voice in real time while the user is skiing. For this system, student skiers are equipped with a mobile computer and a head-mounted display （HMD） with a video camera and earphones. The HMD shows an image of the skier's forward field of vision as captured by the video camera. This system uses markers positioned along the ski slope in place of the poles （gates） that show the skier which direction to turn. When the video camera on a turning skier captures a marker, the system displays instructions on the HMD in real time with AR technology. These instructions are in the form of a CG-animated virtual instructor that gives a model demonstration, virtual poles and flags, arc-shaped arrows to clearly show the turn direction, arrows mimicking force vectors to give instructions on weight transfer, and advice given with an artificial voice. We have confirmed that the system displays such instructions appropriately on an actual test run.