Multiuser Augmented Reality Environment


Introduction

Collaborative activities are present everywhere on our daily life. In work, collaboration and cooperation is a key element for communicate and coordinate information. People naturally exchange information at differents forms : discussion, brainstorm, round-table meeting..etc.. Spatial configuration also provide dedicated environment : tabletop for small group discussion, whiteboard for two user discussion, projection for large setup and presentation..
Computer have enhanced meeting situations, and provided new functionnality : distant acces of data, history modifications, persistent data, digital document, multiple interactive methods..etc.. Pervasive Computing and Ubiquitous Computing research is interesting to provide a better way to integrate computer possibilities to our environment. First solutions have been already proposed for provide virtual functionnalities during a meeting for manipulate digital 2D document. Differents tabletop system with projection display device have been proposed for 2D content and interaction.

But few works are interested to enhanced real tabletop meeting for manipule and visualize 3D content. Provide to different users the possibility to interact with 3D object in their real environment and still manipulate real documents with a natural way of communication seem very interesting.
Virtual Reality provide a solution with collaborative virtual environment and new dedicated setup : stereo desktop system, responsive workbench, CAVE, Reality Center...etc..But each furnish too constraint environment (few lighting, one user tracked, high cost of equipment), without real communication metaphors (recreate with avatar metaphor, verbal and gesture metaphors) and intuitive interaction techniques (moving naturally 3D element, easy sketching on real paper). Due to limited virtual reality collaborative system we propose here a new approach for collaborative activities for tabletop meeting. more..

Approach

We are concentrate to tabletop meeting and propose an Augmented Reality Approach. Augmented Reality (AR) can be defined by the possibilites to add virtual information on our environment.

For example in a meeting, 3D virtual object can be put on table and user can interact with this information DIRECTLY on the real environment. With AR users can manipulate intuitively with real or virtual information and always keep natural metaphor communication (gesture, verbal). We developped MARE, Multiuser Augmented Reality Environment, a generic environment for co-located 3D collaborative activity on tabletop setup.
Based on user-centered design we identify main components and requirements to provide our environment. This approach has been to study precisely each requirement and provide new dedicated solution. We concentrate on :
  • Mixing : furnish a high level of registration between real and virtual, furnish a high quality of visual integration.
  • Architecture : furnish a dynamic, easily setup, extensible environment. Furnish a high level framework for realize meeting session dedicated to a specific domain.
  • Interaction : provide new intuitive interaction metaphor for multi-user and dedicated to tabletop support.
  • Collaborative : keep natural communication channel. support collaborative requirements (like privacy, simultaneous acces).

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Applications

Our system is dedicated to all domains that visualize and manipulate 3D content. We have identified differents domains that seem very convincing for our works :
  • Ingeneering : engineer can discuss of a virtual prototype during a meeting, compare it to real mockup, use paper for sketch modification, use electronic devices for exchange information, have complement information.
  • Architecture : Architect can present virtual or real mockup during a meeting directly on table. Client can annote and interactively modify the mockup with intuitive and simple interaction method.
  • Scientific Visualization : Chemist during a meeting can use possibility of 3D interaction with molecul and always use real paper, sketch some schme view of element.
  • Game : Role-Playing and board game can be completly enhanced with virtual possibilites. With keeping real context with a board game, user can manipulate animated virtual character, a master can add treasure or monster during the game...etc...
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Publications

see here..

Talks

  • "Vers Un Environment 3D Collaboratif ", seminar "real-time augmented reality", GTR ISIS (ENST, Paris, September 2003)
  • "Interaction en Réalité Augmentée, un pas vers l'hybridité", internal presentation (ARTIS, June 2003)
  • "Reunion de Travail en Réalité Augmentée : Vers un environnemnt 3D Collaboratif", seminar "virtual reality", Renault (Ecole de France, Paris, January 2003)
  • "MARE, Multiuser Augmented Reality Environment on Real Table Setup", lab presentation (Computer Graphics Group, Wien, Austria, November 2002)
  • "Travaux en Réalité Augmentée à IMAGIS", lab presentation (IIHM(CLIPS), Grenoble, France, Mars 2002)
  • "Travaux en Réalité Augmentée", internal presentation (iMAGIS, Grenoble, France, February 2002)

Media

  • Videos :
    presentation video : .
  • Screenshots :
  • Photos :
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Project WebSite..

©2003 Raphael Grasset.