Navigation and assistance using Augmented Reality

Abstract: Mixed Reality (MR) is closing the gap between real and digital and is changing how we interact with digital content. Making physical objects a part of the user interface creates a direct mapping between virtual and reality and along with that emerges many design benefits. Current head-worn see through Augmented Reality (AR) headsets are not only capable of delivering a MR experience but are also spatial computers. Equipped with a wide variety of sensors makes the headsets capable of understanding the environment and context. This thesis aims to explore how AR and spatial computing can be used as navigation support in indoor facilities. A prototype implementing real time position visualization and pathfinding was developed and evaluated in a user study conducted on 20 test participants. The results shows that there is great potential in using spatial computing and AR for positioning and navigation.