Skyanchor

Abstract

For glass-free mixed reality (MR), mid-air imaging is a promising way of superimposing a virtual image onto a real object. This demonstration particularly focuses on MR systems that manipulate virtual images with real objects. When you move the real object around, you will see the latency of the super-imposing system: the virtual image seems to follow after the object. This is the problem of temporal consistency caused by sensors and computational devices for geometrical consistency (position sensing). In order to avoid this problem, this paper proposes to separate the object-anchored imaging effect from the position sensing. Our proposal is a new kind of retro-reflective system called SkyAnchor, which consists of only optical devices: two mirrors and an aerial-imaging plate. The system reflects light from a light source under the object and forms an image around the object. This optical solution cannot cause any latency in principle and is effective for higher reality of mixed reality applications. As for position sensing, we utilize a capacitive marker on the back of the bottom of the object and a touch panel. We have implemented an interactive application in which visual images apart from the object change in accordance with the position of the object.