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In-Depth Information
was applied, but with visual contexts acting as triggers for the virtual information.
The identification of the visual attributes is performed through techniques of visual
search through a set of reference images, or patterns, or a 3D cloud point-model, pre-
loaded in a data base. This recognition-image-based AR, due to a series of linked
sequences of augmentations, allows the implementation of the fractal approach to
evoke the Past proposed by us and increases the degree of evocation and immersion.
15.3
State-of-the-Art of the Applications
In order to create our palimpsest consisting of layered real and virtual information,
we explored the state-of-the-art Augmented Reality applications in archaeology
and art.
We were mostly interested in AR applications on mobile devices (MAR), which
implement the larger concept of Mixed-Reality. A comprehensive history of MAR
evolution and applications can be found in Wagner (
2005
) and Karlekar et al. (
2010
).
This kind of AR applications extended the initial AR concept (Milgram and
Kishino
1994
;Azuma
1997
) to location-based services, due to a diversification of
the augmentations, from 3D graphics to images, sounds or videos (Butchart
2011
).
One category of AR applications are context sensitive, and function as mediascapes
7
AR information browsers (Reid et al.
2005
), while another category, closer to the
initial theory of AR, performs 2D and 3D image tracking and visual search for
triggering the augmentations (Butchart
2011
).
State-of-the-art AR applications were developed for tourism and cultural
heritage: Pompeii (Papagiannakis et al.
2005
), Rome Reborn, Archeoguide
(Vlahakis et al.
2002
). In art AR was explored in augmented museum tours (Science
Museum in Paris), personal augmented exhibitions (Sheffield Gallery
8
), or digital
creations (e.g., Geroimenko
2011
,
2012
), in as well as film. More examples can be
found in Craig et al. (
2009
).
In spite of the existing state-of-the-art applications, we consider that the number
of the AR applications must increase in order to create an ecosystem, sufficiently
broad for this kind of applications to have an impact and promote usage by a larger
public.
15.4
State-of-the-Art of the Development Tools
Although several of its technical aspects are to be further improved, AR can
be currently considered a mature and stable technology, with a diverse offer-
ing of development environments and tools. These are both open-source (AR
7
http://www.hpl.hp.com/mediascapes
HP Labs [accessed 1 Dec 2013]
8
http://www.sitegallery.org/archives/3091
[accessed 7 Jan 2014]
