A User Study of a Prototype of a Spatial Augmented Reality System for Education and Interaction with Geographic Data

Gabriel De A Pereira,João Bravo,Jorge Centeno

doi:10.3390/bdcc2030020

Gabriel De A Pereira, João Bravo + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/bdcc2030020

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Abstract

Recent technological advancements in many areas have changed the way that individuals interact with the world. Some daily tasks require visualization skills, especially when in a map-reading context. Augmented Reality systems could provide substantial improvement to geovisualization once it enhances a real scene with virtual information. However, relatively little research has worked on assessing the effective contribution of such systems during map reading. So, this research aims to provide a first look into the usability of an Augmented Reality system prototype for interaction with geoinformation. For this purpose, we have designed an activity with volunteers in order to assess the system prototype usability. We have interviewed 14 users (three experts and 11 non-experts), where experts were subjects with the following characteristics: a professor; with a PhD degree in Cartography, GIS, Geography, or Environmental Sciences/Water Resources; and with experience treating spatial information related to water resources. The activity aimed to detect where the system really helps the user to interpret a hydrographic map and how the users were helped by the Augmented Reality system prototype. We may conclude that the Augmented Reality system was helpful to the users during the map reading, as well as allowing the construction of spatial knowledge within the proposed scenario.

Highlights

Augmented Reality (AR) is a technology that enhances the perception of the real environment by adding virtual information [1]
We describe the results of development of the AR system and subsequently the results obtained by applying the activities
This research was designed to demonstrate the development of an AR application, as well as to evaluate its contributions for supporting the interaction with geographic data and map-reading tasks

Summary

Introduction

Augmented Reality (AR) is a technology that enhances the perception of the real environment by adding virtual information [1]. Azuma et al [2] define an AR system to have the following properties: combines real and virtual objects in a real environment; runs interactively and in real time; and registers (aligns) real and virtual objects with each other. Azuma [1] already pointed out that there are several challenges that are still open in this field and there are many unexplored options of new devices, making the AR subject a vibrant area of research. His statement remains valid today, as one may see in Carbonell-Carrera et al [5] and Carbonell-Carrera et al [6]

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