Abstract
BackgroundMobile augmented reality (MAR) apps offer potential support for emergency responders in rural areas.ObjectiveIn this report, we described lessons learned from the development process of augmented reality (AR) Farm Mapping to Assist, Protect and Prepare Emergency Responders (MAPPER), a MAR app that provides emergency responders onsite information about the agricultural operation they enter.MethodsCross-platform frameworks were used to create AR MAPPER to accommodate budget constraints and overcome issues with markerless MAR technologies. Although the single codebase and Web technologies streamlined development, cross-device hardware limitations impacted location accuracy, lengthened the development cycle, and required regular updates to third-party libraries.ResultsA hybrid development approach of using Web-based technologies with native tie-ins for specialized components and enhanced performance cut time and costs. This also led to consistency across multiple platforms and ensured that there is only a single set of source files to modify for Android and iPhone operating systems. Meanwhile, active development was delayed by some major hurdles. Apple and Google both released new versions of their operating systems, and the Wikitude framework issued four major updates, each of which brought with it some important enhancements and also led to some new issues.ConclusionsDevelopers should consider single platform native development to benefit from platform-specific MAR implementations and to avoid development, testing, and maintenance costs associated with cross-platform implementation. Emergency response organizations may be more likely to utilize a single platform across the devices used by their command staff. This also reduces the benefits of cross-platform development. Furthermore, providing map-based, non-AR cross-platform apps for landowners, farmers, and ranchers would help improve and maintain data quality, which is crucial for the utility and user experience of MAR apps.
Highlights
Augmented reality (AR) [1] combines a view of the real world with digitally overlaid content
The project was led by a research team, which was administratively housed within a private rural health care system in the Upper Midwest
It appears that taking a hybrid app approach toward development by using Web-based technologies was a decision that had some benefits
Summary
Augmented reality (AR) [1] combines a view of the real world with digitally overlaid content. MAR interfaces are expected to be able to provide valid, up-to-date, and relevant content to the user [3] This may be true in the context of apps created for medical education, health care service delivery, and other industries where unreliable and irrelevant content could have material and safety implications. Results: A hybrid development approach of using Web-based technologies with native tie-ins for specialized components and enhanced performance cut time and costs. This led to consistency across multiple platforms and ensured that there is only a single set of source files to modify for Android and iPhone operating systems. Providing map-based, non-AR cross-platform apps for landowners, farmers, and ranchers would help improve and maintain data quality, which is crucial for the utility and user experience of MAR apps
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