Augie | High-level Authoring Tools in Augmented Reality: Analysis and Case Study

Technologies: Java, Android, Metaio

Type: course project

Augie is an application that executes AR instructors built on Augie Studio. Such instructors, in a similar manner to traditional instructions, provide step-by-step guidance about performing specific tasks or functions. Yet, the instructors use AR technology to incorporate relevant instructions directly within their contexts of use, overlaying layers of digital information to the physical scene at which the user is looking at. 

Once the application is launched, a menu icon presents all the available instructors. The user can then select the desired instructor, which causes the application to show a second menu listing all the tasks contained in the chosen instructor. The user can then choose a specific task to be executed, which starts the device's camera. In turn, a task consist of a series of steps to complete an action. In turn, each step is composed of one or more contexts. A context is tied to a single image target and equipped with virtual content such as images, three-dimensional models, animations, and sounds. To unlock this virtual information on top of the world, the user simply points the device's camera at the tracking target.

Furthermore, the user can navigate from one step to another using the forward and backward buttons. Note that, during the reproduction of one step, multiple image patterns can be tracked simultaneously. Indeed, the actual amount of image targets corresponds to the number of contexts contained in this step. Hence, in case one of these target images is recognized, the corresponding virtual content is rendered on the device screen. In addition, above to the navigation buttons, it is presented the current and the total number of steps. After passing through all the steps, the user can return to one of the previous menus and choose a different task or instructor.