Tangible interaction in learning astronomy through augmented reality book-based educational tool

Abstract

Live Solar System (LSS) is an Augmented Reality book-based educational tool. Augmented Reality (AR) has its own potential in the education field, because it can provide a seamless interaction between real and virtual objects. LSS applied the Tangible Augmented Reality approach in designing its user interface and interaction. Tangible Augmented Reality is an interface which combines the Tangible User Interface and Augmented Reality Interface. They are naturally complement each other. This paper highlights the tangible interaction in LSS. LSS adopts the 'cube' as the common physical object input device. Thus, LSS does not use the traditional computer input devices such as the mouse or keyboard. To give users a better exploration experience, Visual Information Seeking Mantra principle was applied in the design of LSS. Hence, LSS gives users an effective interactive-intuitive horizontal surface learning environment. © 2009 Springer-Verlag.