Traditional text-based instruction may not effectively inspire the motivation for learning especially for those young students attending K-12 schools. However, the booming of mobile devices and multimedia technologies can significantly enhance the effectiveness of the learning process and strengthen student engagement. In this work, we propose a novel mobile knowledge learning system based on Augmented Reality (AR) technology to improve the learning experiences for many users. In our AR system, virtual entities are created and superimposed over real-world images or video streams. Appeared to exist in the real world defined by an image or a video, these virtual entities can directly interact with real-world objects and respond to human activities. Depending on the source of camera input, which can be a static image or a video stream, the proposed mobile AR system supports both the demonstration of physical concepts and the rendering of 3D models. We evaluate the performance of the proposed system on the efficiency and effectiveness of the rendering of virtual AR entities under various conditions. Experimental results demonstrate our system supports real-time AR rendering and provides highly interactive learning experiences for different types of users including K-12 students.
The rapid evolution of sensors and devices capable of facilitating the adoption of augmented reality (AR) tools in the everyday work routine has motivated many actors of the public sector and private industry to explore the possibility of optimizing the workflow of their employees. Besides the entertainment and gaming fields, AR tools are currently used in a large number of professional application areas that range from maintenance of equipment to environment acquisition, modeling, and design. The objective of this paper is to present a use case for AR in the context of utility management, where one of the major Italian operators in the electricity sector has decided to improve the efficiency of the workflow of its employees through the adoption of an AR solution. Relying on the superimposition of virtual information on the acquired visual scene, the workers can obtain a complete overview of the area to be inspected. Furthermore, the use of wearable equipment allows for a seamless integration in the maintenance procedures, also complying with the prevailing safety regulations.
Augmented Reality is a widely anticipated platform for user interfaces. AR devices have been around for decades but are for the first time becoming affordable and viable as a consumer device. Through direct representation of 3D space and integration with haptic controls, AR brings many benefits to a user during training scenarios, namely increased knowledge acquisition and direct applicability. We believe these opportunities are not enough explored yet in medical training scenarios. This paper reports on our medical simulation for intubation training, which uses an Oculus Rift DK2 with the stereo camera device Ovrvision Pro. Our work shows great potential for augmented reality devices in medical training, but the hardware devices have yet to mature for widespread use.