Merging Real and Virtual Worlds

Paul Milgram, David Drascic, Julius J. Grodski*, Anu Restogi, Shumin Zhai, Chin Zhou

Ergonomics in Teleoperation and Control Laboratory (ETC-Lab)
Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto
4 Taddle Creek Road, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 1A4

* Defence and Civil Institute of Environmental Medicine,
PO Box 2000, Station A, Downsview, Ontario, Canada M3M 3B9


Proceedings of IMAGINA'95, Monte Carlo, Feb 1-3 1995.

(c) Copyright 1995.


Abstract

An introduction is given to the concept of Augmented Reality within the context of the continuum spanning completely real environments and completely virtual ones. Augmented Reality (for visual displays) is defined as pertaining to any otherwise completely real scene which is somehow enhanced by means of computer graphics. Specific research on monitor based (as opposed to head-mounted) Augmented Reality is then summarised, based on extensive experience with the ARGOS (Augmented Reality through Graphic Overlays on Stereovideo) system. Particular implementations and applications discussed include virtual pointers, virtual tape-measures, virtual tethers and virtual control. Illustrations include two sets of stereo pair Augmented Reality images suitable for free viewing.

Keywords: Augmented reality, mixed reality, virtual reality, augmented virtuality, virtual control, telerobotic control, stereoscopic displays.


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