AR Magic Lenses: Addressing the Challenge of Focus and Context in Augmented Reality

Julian Looser (PhD Student)

Dept. of Computer Science and Software Engineering, University of Canterbury

Thu Feb 28 09:00:00 NZDT 2008 in Room 315, Erskine Building

Abstract

Advances within the field of Augmented Reality have brought robust and affordable AR within reach of the wider HCI research community. Researchers are bringing their knowledge of traditional HCI concepts to bear as they design new user interfaces for augmented reality applications.

This seminar describes Magic Lenses as one particular example of this trend. A Magic Lens is a tool that provides an embedded, secondary view of a workspace, which can be modified to provide alternative representations and capabilities to the user. In this talk I will report on my research efforts towards transitioning the Magic Lens from a focus and context technique for 2D desktop interfaces into a tangible visualisation and interaction tool for new augmented reality interfaces.

The AR Magic Lens technique is demonstrated through a variety of example applications and results from formal user evaluations are reported. Extensions to the developed technique include Flexible Sheet Lenses, which incorporate bimanual interaction and gesture recognition.