Human factors issues in augmented reality

Augmented reality (AR) is a relatively new technology that allows virtual imagery to be superimposed over views of the real-world in real time (Azuma 1997). In this way, AR interfaces augment the real-world scene, allowing a user to maintain the context of their surrounding environment, while still obtaining the benefit of additional sensory input and information. AR also works as a new, three-dimensional user interface supporting direct manipulation, and therefore becomes a powerful tool for facilitating interaction between the users and virtual objects. AR technology has many potential applications ranging from educational training, engineering maintenance, and medical simulations. In fact, AR is considered as one of the most promising and innovative technologies to support training and on-the-job performance. As AR software and hardware becomes more readily available and new uses are demonstrated, the numbers of new applications are expected to increase (Barfield et al. 1995). If AR systems are to be more widely used, researchers will need to focus significant efforts on addressing a number of human factors issues. In this entry we review some of the basic human factors issues associated with AR.