| Summary: | Thesis (Ph.D.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 2002. Engineering and Applied Science Bibliography: leaves 167-196 Advances in miniaturization and computing power have set the scene for the emergence of powerful wearable computer systems capable of active computer vision. A lightweight miniature multimedia computer can be worn by a user, receive input from a camera to sense the local environment, present virtual annotations on a heads up display, and network with others through a wireless modem. Applications include field repair, on site tele-medicine, and augmented tourism. The very notion of such a wearable, networked, augmented reality system has an inherent appeal, as it liberates computing from the desktop and integrates computing with everyday activities. The objective of this research is to demonstrate that augmented reality interfaces can be achieved using basic 1-D or 2-D imaging methods. The notion of "Personal Context" is introduced to address information overload in augmented reality by taking a user-centric model in gathering awareness and context information. Two functional personal context prototypes were built and discussed, showing potential for piano and dance applications. Balancing the body-centric focus of personal context, the idea of mosaicing as a world model for augmented reality registration and telecollaboration is also presented, and realized in another working proof-of-concept system. Finally, a systematic study on accuracy, reliability, and speed of existing and new mosaicing methods (including the method used in the mosaicing prototype) was conducted, identifying their strengths and weaknesses as engines for augmented reality world modelling.
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