Augmented Reality: An Application for Architecture

Virtual reality (VR) can be used as a powerful, three dimensional method to interface with computers. By wearing a head mounted audio-visual display, position and orientation sensors, and tactile interface devices, one can actively inhabit an inclusive computer generated environment. Another area of computing that has seen substantial progress is mobile computing. With computing devices diminishing in size and with options like wireless networking, a user is no longer limited to his physical desktop. Augmented reality (AR) works on similar principles as virtual reality. Yet, unlike VR where the user is immersed in a completely virtual environment, augmented reality overlays virtual objects and data on the real world. This is usually achieved using see-through head mounted displays and tracking devices. The critical problem with present augment reality systems is the lack of real-time speed and accurate tracking. Because we are overlaying information over the real world, small errors in tracking information are easily detected by the human eye. Considerable experimentation and research is currently underway surrounding the use of VR in the architectural design process. Architecture will also be affected as AR based systems become more powerful. Augmented reality based systems combined with wearable computers will become powerful new tools with a wide range of applications for architecture. This paper describes an augmented reality system as a facility management tool.