Augmented Reality
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The University of Manchester Research Mass Adoption of Augmented Reality Link to publication record in Manchester Research Explorer Citation for published version (APA): Lancaster Steiner, M. (2013). Mass Adoption of Augmented Reality: Feasibility, Prospects, Implications, and Alternatives. University of New England. Citing this paper Please note that where the full-text provided on Manchester Research Explorer is the Author Accepted Manuscript or Proof version this may differ from the final Published version. If citing, it is advised that you check and use the publisher's definitive version. General rights Copyright and moral rights for the publications made accessible in the Research Explorer are retained by the authors and/or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights. Takedown policy If you believe that this document breaches copyright please refer to the University of Manchester’s Takedown Procedures [http://man.ac.uk/04Y6Bo] or contact [email protected] providing relevant details, so we can investigate your claim. Download date:07. Oct. 2021 Michael Lancaster Steiner February 10, 2013 220026048 COMP695 Master of Computing Science/I.T. Thesis Title Mass Adoption of Augmented Reality: Feasibility, Prospects, Implications, and Alternatives Supervisor: Prof. A.S.M. Sajeev Pages: 97 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am most grateful to Prof. Abudulkadir Sajeev of the University of New England, who kindly agreed to act as the supervisor for this work. He provided constructive input and advice regarding the content and structure, and did so with patience, clarity, and in detail. I was fortunate to have been able to avail of the online and library resources provided by the American University of Kuwait, without which it would have been difficult to locate a fair number of very useful sources employed in this Paper. COMP695 i Michael Lancaster Steiner M.S. Computer Science Thesis © 2013 #220026048 ABSTRACT Augmented reality as a concept and technology has been in existence for decades, but has so far remained the preserve of select groups of users for specific, limited purposes. With the I.T. giant Google poised to release an augmented-reality-dedicated device in 2014, applications of A.R. as seen in science fiction shows such as the Terminator are now on the verge of being popularized. This work examines the question of whether A.R. is in fact ready for mass adoption by users. It does so by first investigating the technologies involved, particularly the availability of A.R.-ready devices and connectivity standards. Next, it scrutinizes the current and potential availability of the data content for use in A.R. applications, also touching on the relevant legal and ethical issues. It speculates on the likelihood of A.R. benefitting the majority of the populace rather than reinforcing the “digital gap.” Practical or theoretical solutions are suggested in cases where obstacles and difficulties are identified. The Paper finds that the most common expectation of A.R. is at present not achievable, and proceeds to examine more plausible immediate alternatives as well as the forthcoming A.R. projects and initiatives. It is concluded that the success of A.R. on a wide scale is in a very large part contingent upon the success of Google’s Project Glass. If its quality fails to garner sufficient support and imagination of users, partners, and competitors, augmented reality may well never catch on. Michael Lancaster Steiner ii COMP695 #220026048 © 2013 M.S. Computer Science Thesis TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ................................................................................... 1 CHAPTER 2: DEFINITION AND BACKGROUND........................................................... 3 CHAPTER 3: CURRENT STATUS OVERVIEW AND THESIS FORMULATION ................... 5 CHAPTER 4: FUNDAMENTALS OF AUGMENTED REALITY .......................................... 8 4.1 Classification of augmented reality ............................................................ 9 4.1.1 Controlled-environment augmented reality ....................................... 9 4.1.2 Free-environment augmented reality ............................................... 11 CHAPTER 5: ISSUES IN FREE-ENVIRONMENT A.R. APPLICATIONS ........................... 13 5.1 Locationing ............................................................................................... 13 5.2 Connection standards .............................................................................. 16 5.2.1 Satellites ............................................................................................ 17 5.2.2 WiMax ............................................................................................... 17 5.2.3 Wide Local Area Networks ................................................................ 17 5.2.4 Cellular networks .............................................................................. 18 5.3 Energy supply ........................................................................................... 20 5.4 Technology penetration ........................................................................... 21 5.4.1 Smartphone representation.............................................................. 22 5.4.2 Global-level disparity ........................................................................ 24 5.5 User experience to date ........................................................................... 26 5.6 Augmented reality data ........................................................................... 27 5.6.1 Content representation in databases ............................................... 29 5.6.1.1 Existing databases ................................................................29 5.6.1.2 User-generated databases ...................................................31 5.6.1.3 Unified database creation ....................................................33 5.6.2 Data reliability ................................................................................... 34 5.6.3 Data uniformity and fairness............................................................. 35 5.6.4 Implications of substandard A.R. data .............................................. 37 5.6.4.1 Solutions to substandard A.R. data ......................................39 COMP695 iii Michael Lancaster Steiner M.S. Computer Science Thesis © 2013 #220026048 5.6.5 Data relevance and filtering .............................................................. 41 5.6.5.1 Client-side personalization ...................................................42 5.6.5.2 Server-side personalization ..................................................43 5.6.5.3 A.R. heuristics technological implications ............................44 5.7 A.R. heuristics legal implications .............................................................. 45 5.7.1 Privacy ............................................................................................... 46 5.7.2 Security .............................................................................................. 47 5.7.3 Data ownership ................................................................................. 48 5.7.4 User anonymity ................................................................................. 48 5.7.5 A.R. general potential for misuse ...................................................... 49 CHAPTER 6: FREE-ENVIRONMENT A.R. VIABILITY AND ALTERNATIVES ................... 52 6.1 General ..................................................................................................... 52 6.2 Marker-based applications ...................................................................... 53 6.3 A.R. in marketing: Users as brand ambassadors ...................................... 56 6.4 A.R. facilitating mundane shopping ......................................................... 56 6.4.1 Saving time ........................................................................................ 56 6.4.2 Online apparel shopping ................................................................... 57 6.5 Real estate ................................................................................................ 58 6.6 Home management and tasks ................................................................. 59 6.7 Personal computers user interface .......................................................... 60 6.8 A.R.-based social networking ................................................................... 61 6.9 Distance communication .......................................................................... 62 6.10 Drawbacks ................................................................................................ 63 CHAPTER 7: REALISTIC PROSPECTS OF MASS A.R. ADOPTION ................................ 65 7.1 Google’s Glass .......................................................................................... 65 7.2 Other contenders ..................................................................................... 67 7.3 A.R. via contact lenses .............................................................................. 67 7.4 What NOT to do ....................................................................................... 68 CHAPTER 8: CONCLUSION AND FUTURE ................................................................ 69 INDEX OF FIGURES ..................................................................................................