3D Virtual Tracing and Depth Perception Problem on Mobile AR
Leo Gombač, Klen Čopič Pucihar, Matjaž Kljun, Paul Coulton, Jan Grbac · 2016
Mobile Augmented Reality (AR) is most commonly implemented using a camera and a flat screen. Such implementation removes binocular disparity from users' observation. To compensate, people use alternative depth cues (e.g. depth ordering). However, these cues may also get distorted in certain AR implementations, creating depth distortion which is problematic in situations where precise hand interaction within AR workspace is required such as when transcribing augmented instructions to physical objects (e.g. virtual tracing -- creating a physical sketch on a 2D or 3D object given a virtual image on a mobile device). In this paper we explore how depth distortion affects 3D virtual tracing by implementing a first of its kind 3D virtual tracing prototype and run an observational study. Drawing performance exceeded our expectations suggesting that the lack of visual depth cues, whilst holding the object in hand, is not as problematic as initially predicted. However, when placing the object on the stand and drawing with only one hand (the other is used for holding the phone) their performance drastically decreased.