1. Spatial Hypermedia and Augmented Reality
Landon Zabcik
Auburn University

2. Outline Introduction Spatial Hypermedia
Geographical Information System (GIS)
Location Based Services
Adaptive Hypermedia
Augmented Reality
Mixed Reality
Collaborative Virtual Environments (CVE)
Combining Tools and Hybrids
Conclusion

3. Purpose
To give an overview of some current location aware tools and virtual environment tools
These tools can and are being combined together
Share some common principles
The goal of these tools:
Add functionality
Aid usability

4. Spatial Hypermedia Definition
Usually consists of a 2D or 3D “table” or workspace for sorting information
“Cards” or items are placed on the table
The location and grouping of the cards is significant
Cards can contain other cards inside them
Exploits the HCI principle of human spatial memory

5. Spatial Hypermedia Spatial Parser:
Used by some spatial hypermedia systems
Recognizes “piles” of cards as structures and treats them accordingly
Allows piles to be manipulated as a complete entity, not just individual cards
Examples of piles include lists, tables, folders, and clusters
Keeps the table clean and easy to operate

6. Spatial Hypermedia Functionality Provided: Grouping Moving Rotation
Transparency
Light effects and source
An abstract and unbounded 2D or 3D space

7. Spatial Hypermedia Examples: Data Mountain:
A 3D environment for organizing web pages
Users of the environment are able to organize the pages by location
Like pages can be grouped together
Makes links to websites easier to view and the paths of the website easy to follow

8. Spatial Hypermedia Examples: Task Gallery:
A 3D virtual windows environment
Allows users to organize open windows and applications
Users put “tasks” (a collection of open documents and applications) in the 3D space
Users then organize these tasks by grouping and location
Example – office, home, game room, etc.

10. Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
Definition:
Places different layers of information on top of a digital map
Each layer represents one type of information
Layering allows for separation and organization of information
Layers can be combined

11. Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
Examples
Conventional geographic digital maps
Layers are states, cities, roads, etc.
Different layers are visible at different views
Location of the layers can coincide with GPS information

12. Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
Examples
Geotags Search Engine
Uses a digital map to help users search for websites
Users enter a keyword, and can then click on the matches that appear in the map for more details
Useful if users want to search for websites from a specific area of the world

14. Location Based Services
Use the user location information to provide location-specific service
Needs to know user location relative to the desired information
Usually uses GPS information
Examples
How to get there from here
Restaurants nearby

15. Adaptive Hypermedia
Attempts to present the user with relevant information only
Stores a user’s profile
Alters information the user sees
Learns what information the user likes and dislikes
Example – web browsing
Can be combined with other systems like location based

16. Augmented Reality Definition
A focus on mixing the physical world with digital information and functionality
Overlays digital information directly on the physical world
Attempts to close the gap between digital and physical
HCI – real world objects make the best interfaces

17. Augmented Reality Examples Barcodes Radio frequency tags
Real world items broadcast information
Objects equipped w/ e-tags for easy retrieval
Location based augmented reality where users have wearable computers that project hypermedia information onto real world objects

18. Mixed Reality Definition
Relies on transparent boundaries between the physical and virtual environments
Unlike augmented reality where the virtual is merely projected onto the physical
Users can cross boundaries at any time (traversable)

19. Mixed Reality

20. Collaborative Virtual Environments (CVE)
Definition
Similar to spatial hypermedia with a table and cards
Supports multiple users in the same environment at one time
Proximity rules apply to objects
Proximity rules apply to users

21. Collaborative Virtual Environments (CVE)
Example:
A CVE modeled after a real-world office building
If a user is online, the user will be seated at his desk
Documents are organized by department or by their author (employee’s desk)
Users must come close enough to other users to be able to see them and then communicate
Users must come close enough to documents to access them

22. Combinations
Common principle – Combine two good ideas to make a great idea
Hybrid systems get more out of these principles
Hybrids increase system functionality and usefulness
The future ideal systems will be hybrids

23. Combinations Example: Topos
An architectural editing tool that allows architects to browse the progress of the site construction
Combines CVE, GIS, and Spatial Hypermedia
CVE – many users at once
GIS – location sensitive
S.H. – objects are organized on a workspace

25. Other Systems Collaborative Augmented Environments Virtual Reality
Clearboard, whiteboard
Teleconference
Projected CVE
Immersive CVE

27. Conclusions Great technologies exist today already
Key is to refine them
Combining similar existing systems adds functionality and creates new systems
Make computers more adaptive to human behavior, not the other way around

28. Any Questions?