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International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction

HCII 2021: Virtual, Augmented and Mixed Reality pp 364–380Cite as

Rendering Tree Roots Outdoors: A Comparison Between Optical See Through Glasses and Smartphone Modules for Underground Augmented Reality Visualization

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Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNISA,volume 12770))

Abstract

In this paper we propose augmented reality (AR) modes for showing virtual tree roots in the nature. The main question that we want to answer is “How is it possible to convincingly represent virtual 3D models of tree roots as being located in the forest soil, underground, while using the AR technology?”. We present different rendering and occlusion modes and how they were implemented on two different types of hardware. Two user studies, that we performed to compare the AR visualization for optical see-through glasses (HoloLens head mounted display) and for mobile devices (smartphone), are described. We specifically focus on depth perception and situated visualization (the merging of real and virtual environment and actions). After discussing the experiences collected during outdoor user tests and the results of a questionnaire, we give some directions for the future use of AR in the nature and as a part of an environmental educational setting. The central result of the study is that while supporting depth perception with additional depth cues, specifically occlusion, is very beneficial in the mobile device setting, this support does not change depth perception significantly in the stereo HMD setting.

This work has been performed in project SAARTE (Spatially-Aware Augmented Reality in Teaching and Education). SAARTE is supported by the European Union (EU) in the ERDF program P1-SZ2-7 and by the German federal state Rhineland-Palatinate (Antr.-Nr. 84002945).

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Notes

  1. 1.

    \(++\) (fully agree), \(+\) (agree), \(=\) (neutral), − (reject) and \(--\) (totally reject).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Applied Sciences Worms, UX -Vis Group, Worms, Germany

    Gergana Lilligreen, Philipp Marsenger & Alexander Wiebel

Authors
  1. Gergana Lilligreen
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  2. Philipp Marsenger
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  3. Alexander Wiebel
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gergana Lilligreen .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. U.S. Army Research Laboratory, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, USA

    Jessie Y. C. Chen

  2. U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center, Orlando, FL, USA

    Gino Fragomeni

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Lilligreen, G., Marsenger, P., Wiebel, A. (2021). Rendering Tree Roots Outdoors: A Comparison Between Optical See Through Glasses and Smartphone Modules for Underground Augmented Reality Visualization. In: Chen, J.Y.C., Fragomeni, G. (eds) Virtual, Augmented and Mixed Reality. HCII 2021. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 12770. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-77599-5_26

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-77599-5_26

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-77598-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-77599-5

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

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