Spatial Hypermedia and Augmented Reality Landon Zabcik Auburn University

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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)

Mixed Reality

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

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

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

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

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

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

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