Ariel

Abstract

Ariel is an example of a new approach to user interfaces called Augmented Reality (see Wellner et al., 1993, Mackay et al., 1993). The goal is to allow users to continue to use the ordinrny, everyday objects they encounter in their daily work, and then to enhance or augment them with functionality from the computer. Ariel is designed to augment the use of a particular type of paper document: engineering drawings. Computer information (menus, multimedia annotations, access to a media space) is projected onto a drawing and users can interact with both the projected information and the paper drawing. The design of Ariel is based on studies of users in a distributed cooperative work setting (the construction of a bridge) combined with a scenario-based design approach in which users contribute to the development of design scenarios. This video shows the third Ariel prototype. Future versions will continue to evolve, based on input from users when the system is installed at the work site.