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This study investigated the effects of wearing AR devices on users’ performance and comfort ratings while performing order-picking (OP) tasks. In addition to a picking-by-paper list, two AR devices combined with three order information display designs were examined. Thirty adult participants joined. They searched for and found the boxes in the order list, picked them up, and returned to the origin. The time to complete the task and the number of incorrect boxes picked up were analyzed to assess the performance of the tasks. The subjective ratings of the participants on the comfort rating scale (CRS) and the simulator sickness questionnaire (SSQ) were collected to assess the designs of both the AR devices and the order information displays. It was found that the participants could complete the OP tasks faster when adopting the order map (4.97 ± 1.57 min) or the 3D graph display (4.87 ± 1.50 min) using either one of the AR devices than when using a paper list (6.03 ± 1.28 min). However, they needed more time to complete the OP tasks when wearing both types of AR glasses when the Quick Response (QR) code option was adopted (10.16 ± 4.30 min) than when using a paper list. The QR code scanning and display design using either one of the AR devices guaranteed 100% accuracy but sacrificed efficiency in task completion. The AR device with a binocular display and hand gesture recognition functions had a significantly lower CRS score in the dimensions of attachment and movement (5.6 and 6.3, respectively) than the corresponding dimensions (8.0 and 8.3, respectively) of the other device with a monocular and hand touch input design. There were complaints of eye strain after using both AR devices examined in this study. This implies that these AR devices may not be suitable to wear for extended periods of time. Users should take off the AR device whenever they do not need to view the virtual image to avoid eye strain and other discomfort symptoms.

Efficient movements require intact motor and cognitive function. There is a growing literature on motor-cognitive interventions to improve the overall quality of life of healthy or diseased older people. For such interventions, novel technological advances are crucial not only in terms of motivation but also to improve the user experience in a multi-stimuli world, usually offered as a mixture of real and virtual environments. This article provides a classification system for movement-related research dealing with motor-cognitive interventions performed in different extents of a virtual environment. The classification is divided into three categories: (a) type of digital device with the associated degree of immersiveness provided; (b) presence or absence of a human-computer interaction; and (c) activity engagement during training, defined by activity >1.5 Metabolic Equivalent of task. Since virtual reality (VR) often categorizes different technologies under the same term, we propose a taxonomy of digital devices ranging from computer monitors and projectors to head-mounted VR technology. All immersive technologies that have developed rapidly in recent years are grouped under the umbrella term Extended Reality (XR). These include augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR), and VR, as well as all technologies that have yet to be developed. This technology has potential not only for gaming and entertainment, but also for research, motor-cognitive training programs, rehabilitation, telemedicine, etc. This position paper provides definitions, recommendations, and guidelines for future movement-related interventions based on digital devices, human-computer interactions, and physical engagement to use terms more consistently and contribute to a clearer understanding of their implications.

Using paper models is very attractive for tangible user interaction in an augmented reality (AR) environment. In this paper, we propose an approach to tangible interaction using paper models, which is available at very low cost without hardwire connections, and accessible without restriction on location. For tangible interaction, we facilitate product- and ring-types of paper models which are all fabricated by paper crafting. The approach has been tested and applied in virtual design evaluation of digital handheld products. We found that the approach is accurate enough to be applied to the design evaluation process and tangible enough to provide a pseudo feeling of manipulating virtual products with human hands.

Energy-efficient Buildings (EeB) are demanded in today’s constructions, fulfilling the requirements for green cities. Pre-fab buildings, which are modularly fully-built in factories, are a good example of this. Although this kind of building is quite new, the in situ inspection is documented using traditional tools, mainly based on paper annotations. Thus, the inspection process is not taking advantage of new technologies. In this paper, we present the preliminary results of the SIRAE project that aims to provide an Augmented Reality (AR) tool that can seamlessly aid in the regular processes of pre-fab building inspections to detect and eliminate the possible existing quality and energy efficiency deviations. In this regards, we show a description of the current inspection process and how an interactive tool can be designed and adapted to it. Our first results show the design and implementation of our tool, which is highly interactive and involves AR visualizations and 3D data-gathering, allowing the inspectors to quickly manage it without altering the way the inspection process is done. First trials on a real environment show that the tool is promising for massive inspection processes.

This paper emphasizes the importance of Augmented Reality (AR) and its impact on customer purchasing decisions through in-store Virtual Mirrors (VMs) built through real-time applications using digitalization processes. The paper contributes to the emerging topic of Consumer Purchase Decision-Making by examining international brands that use VM Technology to create immersive customer experiences and how it affects consumer decision-making. The study takes into consideration, as a case study, iconic American Brand Tommy Hilfiger, which has a multi-level store on the prestigious Regent Street in London opened in 2006. The study's data was gathered from reports made by 20 British nationals residing in London who utilized the publicly available VMs at the specified retailer. The process commenced with the editing and organization of responder reports, selected according to the level of saturation in several VM scenarios. The observations and conclusions yielded a lot of empirical data to analyze. This level identified 870 conceptual categories related to Virtual Mirrors using content and sentiment analysis. In the respondents' remarks, 1,279 instances pertinent to the study's topic were identified, along with the most utilized terms.

Automated driving research over the past decades has mostly focused on highway environments. Recent technological developments have drawn researchers and manufacturers to look ahead at introducing automated driving in cities. The current position paper examines this challenge from the viewpoint of scientific experts. Sixteen Human Factors researchers were interviewed about their personal perspectives on automated vehicles (AVs) and the interaction with VRUs in the future urban environment. Aspects such as smart infrastructure, external human-machine interfaces (eHMIs), and the potential of augmented reality (AR) were addressed during the interviews. The interviews showed that the researchers believed that fully autonomous vehicles will not be introduced in the coming decades and that intermediate levels of automation, specific AV services, or shared control will be used instead. The researchers foresaw a large role of smart infrastructure and expressed a need for AV-VRU segregation, but were concerned about corresponding costs and maintenance requirements. The majority indicated that eHMIs will enhance future AV-VRU interaction, but they noted that implicit communication will remain dominant and advised against text-based and instructive eHMIs. AR was commended for its potential in assisting VRUs, but given the technological challenges, its use, for the time being, was believed to be limited to scientific experiments. The present expert perspectives may be instrumental to various stakeholders and researchers concerned with the relationship between VRUs and AVs in future urban traffic.

Abstract Necropsy, the examination of animal carcasses to determine the cause of death, is an essential skill for many professionals. Traditional training methods, however, are costly and time-consuming. The article suggests that Web-based Augmented Reality (WebAR) can offer an immersive and cost-effective training experience for laboratory animal necropsy. It describes using photogrammetry techniques to create a virtual necropsy environment consisting of 10 necropsy steps. A questionnaire was used to evaluate the usability, educational value, and drawbacks of the designed application by students who tested it. The paper outlines best practices for developing WebAR simulations, including high-fidelity 3D models and interactive elements. Additionally, it presents methods for creating new WebAR applications using specific programs or scripts. This paper highlights the potential benefits of WebAR for laboratory animal necropsy training, emphasizing its accessibility, cost-effectiveness, and scalability.

Objective. The objective of this study was to conduct a bibliometric analysis of augmented reality and virtual reality studies in the field of sports and physical education using the Scopus database from 2019 to 2024. The analysis has focused on research productivity, document types, journal rankings, popular papers, commonly cited keywords, and co-authorship trends. Materials and methods. Bibliometric analysis was used as a research method for carrying out the study. Research stage (1) identified data using the Scopus database for the Boolean keywords “augmented reality” AND “virtual reality” AND “sports education” or “physical education”. Stage (2) of the search considered original data from articles, conferences, and English language books. Stage (3), initial identification, yielded 1,174 documents, which were then filtered to produce 27 documents suitable for further inquiry. The techniques for collecting and analyzing data included using Mendeley, VosViewer, and Excel. Results. In 2022, research productivity increased rapidly, with the number of documents 8 (30%), the most common document type being original articles containing 19 documents (70%) falling into this category. The Scopus quartile 1 journal had the most articles with a total of 11 documents (41%), including Soltani and Morice’s paper receiving 103 citations, while the trending keywords that appeared frequently were physical education and virtual reality. Regarding researchers who often engage in collaborative endeavours, it was found that there were 18 scientists working on the same topic. Conclusions. Based on these findings, research subjects on sports education using augmented and virtual reality are still needed to improve knowledge.

Purpose – Inclusive growth in the education sector is still a major challenge in some countries because of limited access to technologies and internet connectivity, among other reasons. However, as a technology, augmented reality (AR) is expected to be widely used in the field of education in the future. The main purpose of this paper is to explore the use of AR for inclusive growth in education as well as identify the challenges, particularly in countries like India and Tanzania. Design/methodology/approach – This paper applies a systematic literature review by analysing and synthesising relevant documents, mainly journal articles, books and conference papers. Descriptive statistics and cross-tabulation were used for the analysis. Content analysis was used to evaluate the contents of the reviewed literature. Findings – For the use of AR, it is important to have adequate digital infrastructure, access to universal internet or broadband facilities and the digital empowerment of citizens. Major challenges to inclusive growth in education include the lack of trained teacher educators and students’ preference for practical or project-based curriculum. Practical implications – Practitioners in both countries may consider the use of AR for inclusive growth in education. Originality/value – This paper specifically examines the use of AR in higher education and the related challenges based on a review of two countries, namely India and Tanzania.

AbstractBackground Traditional medical education often lacks contextual experience, hindering students’ ability to effectively apply theoretical knowledge in real-world scenarios. The integration of the metaverse into medical education holds great enormous promise for addressing educational disparities, particularly in lower-middle-income countries (LMICs) accompanied by rapid technological advancements. This commentary paper aimed to address the potential of the metaverse in enhancing basic sciences education within the constraints faced by universities in LMICs. We also addressed learning design challenges by proposing fundamental design elements and a suggested conceptual framework for developing metaverse-based teaching methods.The goal is to assist educators and medical practitioners in comprehensivley understanding key factors in immersive teaching and learning.Discussion By immersing medical students in virtual scenarios mimicking real medical settings and patient interactions, the metaverse enables practice in clinical decision-making, interpersonal skills, and exposure to complex medical situations in a controlled environment. These simulations can be customized to reflect local healthcare challenges, preparing medical students to tackle specific community needs. Various disciplines, including anatomy, physiology, pharmacy, dentistry, and pathology, have begun leveraging the metaverse to offer immersive learning experiences, foster interdisciplinary collaborations, and facilitate authentic assessments. However, financial constraints pose a significant barrier to widespread adoption, particularly in resource-limited settings like LMICs. Addressing these challenges is crucial to realizing the full potential of metaverse technology in medical education.Conclusion The metaverse offers a promising solution for enhancing medical education by providing immersive, context-rich learning experiences. This paper proposes a conceptual framework and fundamental design elements to aid faculty educators and medical practitioners in effectively incorporating metaverse technology into their teaching methods, thus improving educational outcomes in LMICs.

Advancements in mixed reality (MR) have led to innovative approaches in image-guided surgery (IGS). In this paper, we provide a comprehensive analysis of the current state of MR in image-guided procedures across various surgical domains. Using the Data Visualization View (DVV) Taxonomy, we analyze the progress made since a 2013 literature review paper on MR IGS systems. In addition to examining the current surgical domains using MR systems, we explore trends in types of MR hardware used, type of data visualized, visualizations of virtual elements, and interaction methods in use. Our analysis also covers the metrics used to evaluate these systems in the operating room (OR), both qualitative and quantitative assessments, and clinical studies that have demonstrated the potential of MR technologies to enhance surgical workflows and outcomes. We also address current challenges and future directions that would further establish the use of MR in IGS.

This paper explores the usability of Augmented Reality (AR) applications specifically designed for visually impaired individuals, focusing on how these technologies can enhance their accessibility and daily living. AR offers potential benefits in areas such as navigation, object recognition, environmental awareness, education, social interaction, and entertainment. However, visually impaired users face significant challenges, including complex interfaces, reliance on visual cues, and limited access to assistive technologies. This paper identifies key usability guidelines to address these challenges, such as ensuring compatibility with assistive technologies like screen readers, maintaining consistency in design, providing clear and accessible user interfaces, and integrating alternative sensory cues like audio and haptic feedback. Furthermore, customization options, collision detection, contextual information, and user-centered design principles are emphasized to enhance the AR experience. The study concludes that incorporating these usability guidelines is crucial for creating AR applications that are intuitive, effective, and tailored to the unique needs of visually impaired users. Continuous user testing and feedback are also vital to further refine these technologies and ensure their accessibility.

Augmented Reality (AR), as a novel data visualization tool, is advantageous in revealing spatial data patterns and data-context associations. Accordingly, recent research has identified AR data visualization as a promising approach to increasing decision-making efficiency and effectiveness. As a result, AR has been applied in various decision support systems to enhance knowledge conveying and comprehension, in which the different data-reality associations have been constructed to aid decision-making.However, how these AR visualization strategies can enhance different decision support datasets has not been reviewed thoroughly. Especially given the rise of big data in the modern world, this support is critical to decision-making in the coming years. Using AR to embed the decision support data and explanation data into the end user’s physical surroundings and focal contexts avoids isolating the human decision-maker from the relevant data. Integrating the decision-maker’s contexts and the DSS support in AR is a difficult challenge. This paper outlines the current state of the art through a literature review in allowing AR data visualization to support decision-making.To facilitate the publication classification and analysis, the paper proposes one taxonomy to classify different AR data visualization based on the semantic associations between the AR data and physical context. Based on this taxonomy and a decision support system taxonomy, 37 publications have been classified and analyzed from multiple aspects. One of the contributions of this literature review is a resulting AR visualization taxonomy that can be applied to decision support systems. Along with this novel tool, the paper discusses the current state of the art in this field and indicates possible future challenges and directions that AR data visualization will bring to support decision-making.

Education is one of the many sectors in which augmented reality has been successfully implemented. To determine how Augmented Reality (AR) supports education, this bibliometric study analyzes 1734 articles extracted from the Scopus database between 2010 and mid-2023. The study aimed to determine patterns in productivity, authorship and collaboration patterns, publications, citation structures, general research tendencies, and bibliographic coupling. Biblioshiny and VOSviewer were employed in this investigation. The outcomes of the study indicate an ongoing trend of increasing publication counts or more contributions since 2016, and still a trending topic studies on interactive learning environments and AR in education and knowledge constitute niche areas, while epidemiology, science education, and mobile augmented reality are important research topics that were underdeveloped and indicate a relationship that is both emerging and declining, based on a thematic analysis of the papers. Furthermore, the outcomes demonstrate that the USA, Spain, and the United Kingdom have the strongest global cooperation despite the USA writing more articles. To offer an ideal road map for scholars who would like to carry out research in this area, this paper also looks at the trendsetting in augmented reality in education.

There is a growing concern with preparing a sufficient number of highly qualified professional in areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). However, the number of students to reach proficiency and pursue in STEM majors seems to be decreasing. Augmented Reality (AR) is one of the evolving technologies that have potential and effect on learning, especially in STEM education. The aim of this paper is to review and analyze existing works that are related to AR in STEM Education. In this study, the common design elements, components or features for designing educational AR framework in STEM education were analyzed. This paper determined a literature review which included 67 studies from scientific journals and papers. The findings indicated that there were many components which played an important role to construct a mobile AR framework in STEM education. By reviewing existing research, the study identified key components for designing effective AR frameworks, including AR systems, multimedia elements, teaching methods, and learning outcomes. The findings suggested that AR could enhance student motivation, understanding, and development of practical skills in STEM subjects. With these reviewed, understanding on how to develop the educational AR apps in STEM education could be enhanced.

Children’s reading engagement is associated with the quality of their reading experiences and outcomes; however, research to date has only examined children’s reading engagement within the context of traditional print books or digital texts. Augmented Reality represents a hybrid reading experience, where traditional paper books are augmented with digital features (e.g., animations, sounds, comprehension questions). This is the first study to examine children’s perspectives and experiences of AR books, within the context of reading engagement. In total, 38 demographically diverse children (aged 8–10, 21 male, 17 English as an Additional Language, 14 ethnicities, nine with teacher-reported reading difficulties) from the UK participated. After reading an AR book, children participated in interviews about their reading engagement. Deductive (themes) and inductive (subthemes) approaches to thematic analysis were used, examining children’s AR reading experiences within the context of their behavioral, cognitive, affective and social engagement. The majority of children found AR books easy to use, and provided examples of how AR books supported their behavioral engagement (e.g., desire to read more/extend reading practices), altered their cognitive engagement (e.g., reading strategies, visual representation/use of imagination, comprehension monitoring), influenced their affective engagement: (e.g., diverse positive feelings), and social engagement (e.g., prompted interaction and discussion), providing examples suggesting similarities and differences with traditional print books. This paper provides novel in-depth insights into children’s perspectives and experiences of AR books, and provides a foundation for researchers, educators, and AR book designers interested in better supporting children’s reading experiences and outcomes with AR books.

Augmented reality (AR) applications are currently used in many fields for communication and educational purposes. Tourism is also a sector where augmented reality is used for destination marketing and cultural heritage promotion. This study will focus on mobile location-based AR applications and their potential in tourism. Such applications can guide tourists to places of interest and enhance their overall experience. The aim of this paper is to present a mobile application that was created for tourists visiting the region of Western Macedonia, Greece. The application was developed in order to guide the users in the region, entertain them, and educate them about the region’s sights, cultural heritage, and other special characteristics. The paper also aims to present a large set of features that are present in the application, including various types of AR (marker-based, markerless, and location-based) in order to provide designers who wish to create AR applications for tourism with new ideas. The application was validated by a usability test, and its features were evaluated by 39 participants who completed a questionnaire with 29 Likert-scale items. This procedure revealed the level of acceptance for the application features, and valuable feedback was also received during a discussion with the participants about how the application could be upgraded in the future.

In tandem with the development of more effective and convenient Augmented Reality (AR) solutions for teaching, digital development programs aim at providing the infrastructure to include digital media in classrooms. To prepare future teachers for the demands of digitized learning settings, adequate university courses are needed to enhance digital competencies. Based on such theoretical models as the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the Unified Theory of Acceptance, and the Use of Technology Framework (UTAUT), this paper seeks to enhance not only the preparedness, but also the attitudes, of future teachers toward incorporating and disseminating AR solutions into their teaching scenarios and institutions. Focusing on instructional design principles and the aim to create a meaningful teaching scenario that can be integrated into the curriculum, the paper develops a seminar concept for master’s students in educational sciences. It contains a theoretical framework for using AR for teaching, a hands-on conceptualization, and a joint exploration of the finished solutions. The current paper presents the concept of the seminar, first evaluation results, lessons learned, and development directions with a focus on the education of future teachers.

This paper examines the integration of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies in architectural design and building systems. It explores their evolution, benefits, and limitations, citing case studies like the One World Trade Center. VR and AR are shown to enhance collaboration, visualization, and decision-making in design. However, challenges such as hardware limitations and content creation complexity persist. The paper concludes by emphasizing the need for ongoing innovation and collaboration in leveraging VR and AR to shape the future of architectural practice. Overall, it offers valuable insights into the transformative potential of these technologies in building design.

This paper examines the integration of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies in architectural design and building systems. It explores their evolution, benefits, and limitations, citing case studies like the One World Trade Center. VR and AR are shown to enhance collaboration, visualization, and decision-making in design. However, challenges such as hardware limitations and content creation complexity persist. The paper concludes by emphasizing the need for ongoing innovation and collaboration in leveraging VR and AR to shape the future of architectural practice. Overall, it offers valuable insights into the transformative potential of these technologies in building design.

In medicine and healthcare, augmented reality (AR) has been used by physicians during surgical procedures. It has proved helpful in preoperative planning and procedure navigation by allowing them to display in-depth information and visualize details in real time during surgery, prioritizing patient safety and healthcare. Due to the critical nature of surgical procedures, extreme accuracy is required when using ar technology to maintain patients' health. A few years ago, ar faced several challenges and limitations in surgeries, such as noise in real-time images, cutting errors, navigation errors, wrong implant placement, overlay errors, navigating narrow areas, geometric accuracy limitations, image alignment, image registration, and occlusion handling. This paper reviews several recently published articles exploring ar technology usage in jaw and knee replacement surgery, focusing on identifying the newest technologies, methods, and solutions for the abovementioned limitations. Based on data collected from the published papers, the results were compared for each problem solved in each article regarding accuracy and processing time.

Augmented reality (AR) has gained significant attention in recent years for its applications in training and assistance in various industrial settings. Yet, a less understood question is: How can AR systems, coupled with artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, adaptively tailor instructions and feedback interventions to the specific needs of users, their cognitive states, and levels of expertise during task execution? This paper addresses this question by conducting a systematic review that delves into three specific research areas: the state-of-the-art of AR-based systems for industrial applications in terms of features and training/assistance capabilities, the existing gaps in transforming AR into an “intelligent companion” that adapts to both the work context and the user’s needs, and how these sources of multimodal data captured by AR headsets, wearables, and IoT sensors can be harnessed to interpret, predict, and guide task performance and learning through AR. To this end, this paper synthesizes recent studies in the field of industrial AR, summarizing their main findings, contributions, and associated limitations when integrating AI capabilities into AR. The results suggest that AR can effectively tackle key industry challenges associated with training and upskilling, process improvement, and error prevention. However, limitations remain in integrating multimodal data-driven capabilities into AR to effectively tailor AR guides to how individual workers learn and perform complex industrial tasks. The paper concludes with a framework as well as several research directions and examples to realize intelligent AR systems enhanced with advanced AI capabilities for activity understanding, user modeling, and interventions, serving as adaptive and personalized companions for industrial workers.

The ExtendedHand interface projects a computer graphics (CG) hand that synchronizes with a user’s physical hand movements onto a real environment, visually extending the user’s reach. This paper focuses on enhancing the user’s tactile perception of an object through cross-modal phenomena by providing a sound texture (auditory information that matches the object) when the CG hand touches it. Here, ExtendedHand enables users to touch objects beyond their physical reach, an experience that cannot be achieved with their physical body. In such situations, the appropriateness of adjusting sound pressure based on physical laws according to distance for users is unclear. Additionally, we have empirical knowledge that the speed at which we touch objects with our hands results in different sounds. Within ExtendedHand, since the movement of the user’s physical hand is amplified and reflected in the CG hand’s movement, the physical hand’s speed does not match the CG hand’s speed. This raises the question of whether sound texture feedback should align with the visual information of the CG hand or the proprioceptive sensory information of the physical hand. In this paper, we conducted two user studies to explore appropriate sound texture feedback for the projected CG hand. The results indicate that when the CG hand touches objects at various distances, the sound pressure should follow the same sound pressure attenuation as observed in physical phenomena. Additionally, the results suggest that despite swift tracing actions with the CG hand, users perceive sounds produced at a slower pace to be more suitable.

Assets are essential economic resources owned or controlled by a person or organization, and play a vital role across diverse domains, ranging from tangible assets to intangible assets including hybrid assets. However, the concept of managing assets also varies across domains. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) provides several asset management (AM) standards and defines AM as the coordinated activity of an organization to realize value from assets. While a plethora of literature has been published on AM in various sectors involving the integration of different technologies with numerous potential merits, there remains a gap in systematically summarizing and organizing the trend of research in the AM landscape with immersive technologies. This gap could be attributed to the prevailing focus of contemporary researchers on technologies like Artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), Building Information Model (BIM), and Digital Twin (DT), with limited attention to immersive technology, including Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), Mixed Reality (MR) and Extended Reality (XR). To address this deficiency, this study conducts a comprehensive systematic literature review that explores AM in diverse settings involving immersive technology. The objective is to offer a well-structured and rigorous approach to understanding the research trends and adoption of different technologies in AM across diverse settings over the past 13 years between 2010 and 2023, using two reputable search engines, Google Scholar and Scopus. Furthermore, the study was guided by a well-defined research methodology, with explicit phases such as inclusion and exclusion criteria. This process narrowed down to 237 papers, and after undergoing rigorous quality assessment, 218 papers were retained. Results from the reviewed papers revealed the distribution of different technologies integrated in AM across various settings focusing on solutions that enhance AM and a comparative analysis of the technologies. This work classified the management of assets in each domain based on the predominant technology. Furthermore, the study shows that the integration of immersive technology in AM is evolving; and that VR accounted for 36%; AR accounted for 14%; XR 11%, MR 1%, and 38% of the reviewed papers implemented immersive technologies in conjunction with other technologies. This work acknowledges potential study limitations and threats to validity due to exclusion criteria but emphasizes their minimal impact on the findings. Furthermore, the study summarized key development milestones and technology prospects of AM and provided insights and avenues for future research. To the best of the researchers’ knowledge, this study is the first of its kind to explore key trends and prospects with immersive technology in this domain of interest.

The paper envisions the use of Augmented Reality (AR) as an interactive and communication tool utilized in the architectural design research, education, and practice. It summarises the current knowledge and various applications of this immersive technology in both the theoretical and practical field and focuses on a particular type of the AR implementation – tangible user interfaces (TUI) – in a computational design context. The outcome of the research is an adaptation of the originally GRASS-GIS-powered Tangible Landscape tool into Grasshopper 3D environment, which is more accurate and suitable for the architectural design workflow with respect to 3D computation, algorithmic modelling and different scale management. The newly prototyped tool is reactive to the modifications of the physical model and projects the computed additional information on it in real time and thus can communicate with the designer or observer, which results in a more interactive, haptic man-machine interface. The projected and visualised data on the physical model are the outcome of the computing algorithm designed in Grasshopper that allows for a wide range of applications, including the visualisation of shadows and solar potential analysis and thus depicts the physical model in multiple dimensions. Furthermore, the article discusses the potential and further development of this tool as well as the possibilities of layering different AR technologies in the subsequent research.

The paper envisions the use of Augmented Reality (AR) as an interactive and communication tool utilized in the architectural design research, education, and practice. It summarises the current knowledge and various applications of this immersive technology in both the theoretical and practical field and focuses on a particular type of the AR implementation – tangible user interfaces (TUI) – in a computational design context. The outcome of the research is an adaptation of the originally GRASS-GIS-powered Tangible Landscape tool into Grasshopper 3D environment, which is more accurate and suitable for the architectural design workflow with respect to 3D computation, algorithmic modelling and different scale management. The newly prototyped tool is reactive to the modifications of the physical model and projects the computed additional information on it in real time and thus can communicate with the designer or observer, which results in a more interactive, haptic man-machine interface. The projected and visualised data on the physical model are the outcome of the computing algorithm designed in Grasshopper that allows for a wide range of applications, including the visualisation of shadows and solar potential analysis and thus depicts the physical model in multiple dimensions. Furthermore, the article discusses the potential and further development of this tool as well as the possibilities of layering different AR technologies in the subsequent research.

This paper explores the matchmaking between augmented reality (AR) and Web3 technologies within the context of ecotourism, providing a bibliometric analysis of the research landscape to understand how these digital innovations are empowering sustainable tourism practices. Using data from the Web of Science Core Collection, we conducted a targeted search that provided the key themes and clusters for the research. The findings reveal four primary clusters: AR and Metaverse in immersive tourism experiences, decentralization and security in community-driven tourism management, AI-enhanced AR for ecotourists’ engagement, and blockchain outcomes for ecotourism initiatives. This study contributes to the literature by clarifying the roles of AR and Web3 in promoting responsible tourism, fostering trust, and empowering local communities through decentralized models.

Augmented reality has a long research history in computer vision and computer graphics communities. It aims to enhance the user experience for real scenes via overlapping virtual objects. Nowadays, mobile augmented reality has attracted much attention from researchers and developers due to the development of hardware techniques. Modern mobile devices such as mobile phones have a powerful computational ability for augmented reality applications. As a result, many researchers have paid attention to mobile augmented reality. From the technical viewpoint of augmented reality, mobile augmented reality largely depends on camera pose estimation. However, existing methods make it difficult to achieve the best balance between accuracy and efficiency, according to our investigation, and this may handicap the performance of mobile augmented reality systems. To overcome the problem, in this paper, we propose a novel approach to camera pose estimation based on bundle optimization. Our proposed method is evaluated on real-world datasets and is also tested in the mobile augmented reality system. Both experiments demonstrate that our proposed method has fast speed and high accuracy.

In this paper, we introduce MiVitals—a Mixed Reality (MR) system designed for healthcare professionals to monitor patients in wards or clinics. We detail the design, development, and evaluation of MiVitals, which integrates real-time vital signs from a biosensor-equipped wearable, VitalitiTM. The system generates holographic visualizations, allowing healthcare professionals to interact with medical charts and information panels holographically. These visualizations display vital signs, trends, other significant physiological signals, and medical early warning scores in a comprehensive manner. We conducted a User Interface/User Experience (UI/UX) study focusing on novel holographic visualizations and interfaces that intuitively present medical information. This approach brings traditional bedside medical information to life in the real environment through non-contact 3D images, supporting rapid decision-making, vital pattern and anomaly detection, and enhancing clinicians' performance in wards. Additionally, we present findings from a usability study involving medical doctors and healthcare practitioners to assess MiVitals' efficacy. The System Usability Scale study yielded a score of 84, indicating that the MiVitals system has high usability.

In recent years, technological advancements have revolutionized the landscape of dental implantology, paving the way for more precise, efficient, and patient-friendly procedures. This paper reviews this approach that integrates DN, Virtual Reality (VR), and Universal Robot (UR) systems to enhance the efficacy of zygomatic implant placement and overcome the limitations of conventional procedures. Dynamic Navigation (DN) offers real-time, three-dimensional guidance during implant placement, enabling precise positioning and optimal implant angulation. By incorporating DN into the workflow, clinicians can navigate anatomical complexities with unprecedented precision, minimizing the risk of surgical errors and enhancing patient outcomes.Virtual Reality (VR) technology immerses clinicians in a simulated environment, providing realistic training scenarios and procedural planning. By leveraging VR, practitioners can simulate complex dental implant surgeries, refine their skills, and anticipate potential challenges before stepping into the operating room, thereby improving surgical proficiency and patient safety. The integration of Universal Robot (UR) systems introduces automation and robotic assistance into the implantology workflow, augmenting the capabilities of dental professionals and ensuring consistent, reproducible results. UR systems enable precise drilling, implant placement, and tissue manipulation, reducing procedural variability and optimizing implant success rates. This innovative integration of DN, VR, and UR systems represents a paradigm shift in dental implantology, offering clinicians unprecedented precision, efficiency, and predictability. By harnessing the synergies of these cutting-edge technologies, dental professionals can elevate the standard of care, redefine treatment protocols, and ultimately enhance patient satisfaction and oral health outcomes.

The application of extended reality (XR) technology in education has been growing for the last two decades. XR offers immersive and interactive visualization experiences that can enhance learning by making it engaging. Recent technological advances have led to the availability of high-quality and affordable XR headsets. These advancements have spurred a wave of research focused on designing, implementing, and validating XR educational interventions. Limited literature focuses on the recent trends of XR within science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. Thus, this paper presents an umbrella review that explores the exploding field of XR and its transformative potential in STEM education. Using six online databases, the review zoomed in on 17 out of 1972 papers on XR for STEM education, published between 2020 and 2023, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The results highlighted the types of XR technology applied (i.e., virtual reality and augmented reality), the specific STEM disciplines involved, the focus of each study reviewed, and the major findings from recent reviews. Overall, the educational benefits of using XR technology in STEM education are apparent: XR boosts student motivation, facilitates learning engagement, and improves skills, for example. However, using XR in education still has challenges that must be addressed, such as the physical discomfort of the learner wearing the XR headset and technical glitches. Besides revealing trends of using XR in STEM education, this umbrella review encourages reflection on current practices and suggests ways to apply XR to STEM education effectively.

Metaverse is an upcoming transformative technology that will impact our future society with immersive experiences. The recent surge in the adoption of new technologies and innovations in connectivity, interaction technology, and artificial realities can fundamentally change the digital world. The Metaverse concept is the most recent trend to encapsulate and define the potential new digital landscape. However, with the introduction of 5G with high speed and low latency advancements in the hardware and software with the graphics power to display millions of polygons in 3D and blockchain technology, this concept is no longer fiction. This transition from today’s Internet to a spatially embodied Internet is, at its core, a transition from 2D to 3D interactions taking place in multiple virtual universes. In recent years, augmented virtual reality has created possibilities in the private and professional spheres. The new Virtual Reality (VR) headsets and Augmented Reality (AR) glasses can provide immersion in the physical sense. Technology must offer realistic experiences for users to turn this concept into reality. This paper focuses on the potential use cases and benefits of the Metaverse as a tech for good. The research paper outlines the potential areas where a positive impact could occur, highlights recent progress, and discusses the issues around trust, ethics, and cognitive load.

The Metaverse concept describes a virtual collective space where users engage with simulated or computer-generated environments, enabled by cutting-edge technologies such as Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and 5G Networks. This convergence allows the creation of complex virtual worlds, enhances user interactions, enables dynamic environments, facilitates seamless integration across platforms, and ensures scalability and persistence, alongside several privacy, security, ethical and legal challenges to be considered. The constant advancement of these technologies is pivotal in shaping a future where the line between physical and virtual realities blurs, unlocking limitless possibilities in realms such as communication, entertainment, education, and business. This leads to novel opportunities for exploration and user engagement. This paper aims to present an overview of the leading technologies driving the transition from the current Internet to the Metaverse, enabling users to interact naturally and intuitively with digital objects and environments. The study explores well-established interactive simulation technologies like virtual reality and augmented reality, along with emerging technologies like somato-sensory interfaces, holographic imaging, and brain-computer interaction interfaces. Emphasizing their potential, the paper demonstrates how these technologies can offer users unparalleled levels of involvement in interactive activities spanning gaming, socializing, education, and business.

This paper investigates the integration of augmented reality (AR) technology into English translation teaching for college students, emphasizing the pivotal role of innovative teaching methods in enhancing students' translation skills and learning experiences. To address the issue of insufficient interest in English translation teaching, the paper initially assesses the purpose and significance of learning English translation through a questionnaire survey, elucidating challenges encountered in English language acquisition. Subsequently, adhering to AR principles, a teaching demonstration platform rooted in AR technology is conceived and developed, intricately aligned with English translation instruction. The platform serves as a solution to issues in English learning, such as inadequate course comprehension, low utilization of teaching resources, and instructors' lack of experience. The research culminates in the analysis of survey results, wherein the quantitative disparities in translation ability between students utilizing the research platform and those subjected to traditional teaching methods are examined. The findings underscore the positive impact of the AR-based research platform on improving students' translation proficiency. The AR platform heightens learners' engagement in the learning process, contributes to constructing a robust knowledge framework, and enhances overall learning outcomes. The platform offers educators opportunities to optimize experimental courses and elevate teaching standards. The paper's outcomes present novel pedagogical scenarios for learners, propose technical solutions for other technical disciplines and furnish a theoretical foundation and application model for a new generation of experimental demonstration platforms.

Brain Computer Interface (BCI) is a new approach to human-computer interaction. It can control the external devices directly with the brain without words and body movements. Brain-controlled robot is a major research area in the field of BCI, which organically integrates BCI with robotic systems to achieve safe and effective real-time control of robots using the user's electroencephalogram (EEG). Currently, there are two types of control methods for brain-controlled robots. One is direct control and the other is shared control. Direct brain control has its shortcomings, namely, low control efficiency and easy user fatigue. Shared control technique can effectively improve the control of brain-controlled robots and reduce the thinking ability of brain-controlled robots, thus making it the main control method of brain-controlled robots. The brain-computer collaborative control system based on augmented reality (AR) technology studied in this paper is a human-computer shared control method. In the experimental analysis of virtual reality (VR) systems and AR systems, this paper processes polylines through a series of control vertices with specific coordinates, using the relative distance measured between each point and the starting point as the relative coordinates, and calculates the operational errors of the two types of systems. In the system error of machining broken lines, when the relative coordinates are (10, 20), (40, 50), and (70, 80), the error values of the VR system are 0.17 mm, 0.36 mm, and 0.55 mm, respectively, while the error values of the AR system are 0.11 mm, 0.24 mm, and 0.41 mm, respectively. Therefore, the studies have illustrated the importance of AR systems for the study of brain-computer collaborative control of robots.

Objectives: The prospect of extended reality (XR) being integrated with surgical training curriculum has attracted scholars. However, there is a lack of bibliometric analysis to help them better understand this field. Our aim is to analyze relevant literature focusing on development trajectory and research directions since the 21st century to provide valuable insights. Methods: Papers were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. Microsoft Excel, VOSviewer, and CiteSpace were used for bibliometric analysis. Results: Of the 3337 papers published worldwide, China contributed 204, ranking fifth. The world's enthusiasm for this field has been growing since 2000, whereas China has been gradually entering since 2001. Although China had a late start, its growth has accelerated since around 2016 due to the reform of the medical postgraduate education system and the rapid development of Chinese information technology, despite no research explosive period has been yet noted. International institutions, notably the University of Toronto, worked closely with others, while Chinese institutions lacked of international and domestic cooperation. Sixteen stable cooperation clusters of international scholars were formed, while the collaboration between Chinese scholars was not yet stable. XR has been primarily applied in orthopedic surgery, cataract surgery, laparoscopic training and intraoperative use in neurosurgery worldwide. Conclusions: There is strong enthusiasm and cooperation in the international research on the XR-based surgical training. Chinese scholars are making steady progress and have great potential in this area. There has not been noted an explosive research phase yet in the Chinese pace. The research on several surgical specialties has been summarized at the very first time. AR will gradually to be more involved and take important role of the research.

Digital twins (DT) are synchronized clones that mirror their physical counterparts at all times, enabling real-time monitoring, analysis, decision-making, and planning for optimized operations. Digital twins can transcend traditional two-dimensional interfaces by incorporating VR/AR/MR (XR) technology, providing immersive, intuitive, and interactive representations of systems, assets, and processes. Furthermore, real-time data from sensors, simulations, and other sources can be integrated into the XR-enabled digital twins, leading to better and more intuitive understanding and to more efficiently monitor, analyze, and maintain complex systems such as nuclear assets. Immersive, interactive, multi-player XR capabilities embedded in DTs will allow spatially accurate and more realistic representation, leading to improved risk assessment, optimized and predictive maintenance scheduling, enhanced situational awareness, and more effective communication among interdisciplinary teams. By combining the strengths of XR and digital twins, nuclear facilities can achieve heightened safety, operational efficiency, and decision-making accuracy. Marrying XR technology with digital twins is also likely to extend the utilization of digital twins to optimize those aspects of the design and operation of nuclear assets that involve human beings–specifically in human factors engineering. Training can also be significantly enhanced if DTs are linked with XR technology. These systems may also be used to assess human performance through human factors engineering for the safety analysis of nuclear assets. A specific example is assessing human performance in semi-autonomous nuclear assets or operating multiple nuclear assets. After briefly reviewing digital twins of nuclear systems from the perspective of XR technology, this paper summarises our work in the nuclear energy space on VR/AR/MR and how these can be integrated into the newly evolving DTs of nuclear assets. The paper also describes the potential use of such systems in optimizing the design and operations of nuclear systems. As XR technology advances, its symbiotic relationship with digital twins can significantly reshape the landscape of nuclear operations and asset management.

This paper explores the application of augmented reality (AR) technology in primary school students' linguistic and literary education. A review of current research on AR in education is presented, including studies on AR books for literacy instruction and reading motivation. The benefits of AR for enhancing students' reading comprehension, critical thinking, and imagination are discussed. AR features are analysed in new “Living Alphabet” books used in Ukrainian schools. The development of a mobile AR application for interactive reading lessons on fairy tales is detailed; this app allows students to actively engage with literary characters and settings in an immersive 3D environment. Pedagogical models employing AR applications, games, and theatre activities are proposed to improve literary reading instruction and foster key competencies aligned with the Ukrainian New School curriculum. The paper concludes that when thoughtfully implemented, AR technology can enrich primary students' linguistic and literary learning. Further research is recommended to prepare teachers to integrate AR into language arts instruction.

By using sound to visualize the real-world environment, audio games can offer a completely new game experience. In this paper, we study how audio cues can be visualized in computer games to enhance the navigation skills of players. To this end, we propose an audio game in which blindfolded players move through a physical maze with the help of audio cues. To realize this game, a sonar headset is designed and built based on ultrasonic sensors, which maps the external environment features into musical sounds. The game is played in a real-world environment and uses an augmented reality approach as it adds virtual sounds to the real world. The gaming environment of this game is a physical maze, where the blindfolded players enter the maze while wearing the sonar headset. A user study was conducted to evaluate the effect of using different sound mapping techniques on navigation performance and playing experience in the game proposed in this paper. The results show that producing musical sound can lead to better navigation performance, game experience, and immersion in players.

Augmented reality (AR) applications are getting popular since they integrate the real world and the virtual world. This paper focusses on AR applications for public and scientific libraries. There exist some projects and sample implementations of AR apps specially designed for libraries, but they are seldom found in practice. To identify whether there is potential for AR apps to be applied in libraries, the results of a qualitative study that has been performed among librarians working in public and scientific libraries in Austria and experts in augmented reality are presented. Searching for media, navigating to the correct location and displaying ancillary information, like ratings, reviews, secondary media, links, etc., has the highest potential for users according to the experts. AR apps for maintaining the bookshelfs of a library provide real benefit for librarians and are awarded high potential as well. Guided tours through libraries using AR-based apps lightens the load of the librarians to introduce new users to the library. The feasibility of an AR app for a library is demonstrated by introducing a prototype that supports library users with additional information on media and the library itself.

Contemporary augmented spaces are situated in-between digital-analog, material-immaterial, online-offline, and real-virtual binaries. Relatedly, postdigital as a concept suggests that digital technologies are now integrated with almost all aspects of the individual and social atmosphere. Therefore, we should engage digitality through a critical approach by focusing on its intermingled situation. For this reason, reading augmented spaces with a postdigital perspective is essential to understanding and evaluating the potential of digital technologies in the context of the current line of vision. This paper aims to provide a better understanding of contemporary debates on digital technologies in the context of design. For this purpose, the article briefly reviews the definition of augmented space, and later postdigital as a concept is discussed with its fundamental characteristics. In what follows selected projects amongst the 2023 Media Architecture Biennale finalists are studied concerning the postdigital augmented spaces. As an outcome of this research, we suggest a conceptual framework that can be effective for the theory and practice of postdigital augmented spaces.

The ERC Advanced Grant AN-ICON, coordinated by Andrea Pinotti and hosted by the Department of Philosophy Piero Martinetti of the University of Milan, is cross-disciplinary project that brings together aesthetics, media theory, archaeology and various disciplines to address the complexities of contemporary mediascape, particularly in the realm of Extended Reality (XR). Within XR, which encompasses Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR) and Mixed Reality (MR), ‘an-icons’ emerge as self-negating images that blur iconic boundaries and promote environmental presence. This paper provides an insight into AN-ICON’s diverse investigations dedicated to immersive technologies. It explores the cultural lineage of VR, AR and XR, their intersections with design and urban spaces, and the emerging prospects for digital memory studies. It also highlights the therapeutic, educational and prosocial potential of these media, informed by their historical and mediarchaeological backgrounds.

Cultural relics visualization brings digital archives of relics to broader audiences in many applications, such as education, historical research, and virtual museums. However, previous research mainly focused on modeling and rendering the relics. While enhancing accessibility, these techniques still provide limited ability to improve user engagement. In this paper, we introduce RelicCARD, a semantics-based augmented reality (AR) tangible interaction design for exploring cultural relics. Our design uses an easily available tangible interface to encourage the users to interact with a large collection of relics. The tangible interface allows users to explore, select, and arrange relics to form customized scenes. To guide the design of the interface, we formalize a design space by connecting the semantics in relics, the tangible interaction patterns, and the exploration tasks. We realize the design space as a tangible interactive prototype and examine its feasibility and effectiveness using multiple case studies and an expert evaluation. Finally, we discuss the findings in the evaluation and future directions to improve the design and implementation of the interactive design space.

Abstract Although building information modelling (BIM) has been widely used in the building industry, its usage in infrastructure projects such as bridges has been very challenging. Extended Reality (XR) that simulates a construction project is still considered a new technology in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry. This paper investigates the viability of integrating both BIM and XR technologies into transportation infrastructure projects. A fully integrated workflow for introducing different XR, Augmented Reality (AR), and Virtual Reality (VR), and BIM technologies using different software for a case study of El-Merghani bridge, a reinforced concrete girder type bridge, was developed. The models for the bridge included GIS integration and geometric road design according to AASHTO, documentation, shop drawings and quantification were developed for the bridge. A hypothetical time schedule was generated in Oracle Primavera P6 elevating the BIM model to 4-D and developing VR and AR virtual experiences with the capability to investigate, visualize, and present the model in a virtual environment, at a high level of immersion. Additionally, the associated risk reduction for the considered XR technology was assessed using Monte Carlo simulation. The workflow and the detailed 3D models developed for the bridge along with the highly immersive VR and AR experiences have provided an interactive platform for engineers and different stakeholders to monitor the project during the design and construction phases. The risk analysis showed that significant cost savings can be achieved with the utilization of VR and AR technology in bridges construction.

This paper introduces an innovative framework for the management of virtual companies in smart urban environments, with an emphasis on socio-economic resilience facilitated by Sustainable Information Systems. The system aims to equip virtual enterprises in smart cities with tools for robust operations amid socio-economic challenges. Its effectiveness is evidenced by improvements in investment risk assessment, business process simulation, and HR project management, enhancing efficiency and foresight. A key feature is predictive analytics for crisis demand forecasting, enabling swift market adjustments and strategic inventory management. It also helps identify alternative clients and suppliers, ensuring business continuity. Integrating machine learning and augmented reality, the system supports automation and strategic decision-making, significantly benefiting the e-commerce sector by addressing fluctuating demand, supply chain issues, and market adaptations during crises. The Sustainable Information System for Virtual Company Management in Smart Cities offers crucial support for e-businesses facing these socio-economic challenges, facilitating their navigation through turbulent times. Its meticulously designed architecture and functionalities make it a powerful instrument for assisting virtual companies in crisis conditions, fostering their sustainable growth within the socio-economic framework of smart urban settings. Comparative studies with existing models underscore this system’s superior efficiency and holistic approach, highlighting its contribution to enhancing the operational efficiency of virtual companies by 95%, reducing the time needed for critical activities like investment risk analysis and business process simulation, and bolstering the socio-economic resilience of smart cities against crises

With the rapid development of science and technology, the integration and complexity of aerospace vehicles, weaponry, and large-scale chemical equipment are becoming higher and higher. PHM plays an important role in realizing reductions in equipment loss due to failures in many fields. In order to systematically sort through the research history of PHM and deeply analyze the development status of AR and DT technologies in the field of PHM, to clarify the current technical challenges and future development directions and to provide valuable references and insights for researchers, engineers, and decision-makers in the related fields, this paper summarizes the development of PHM in the engineering field. This paper summarizes the development of PHM in the field of engineering, from the initial PHM used in aerospace to the current PHM systems supported by various advanced technologies; analyzes the advantages and shortcomings of the digital twin and augmented reality technologies used for PHM; and organizes and summarizes the future directions and future research focuses of PHM research based on the existing technologies (mainly digital twins and augmented reality). After systematic research and study, we found that the integration of augmented reality and digital twin technologies will provide superb simulation capabilities and immersive operation and bring new challenges and opportunities. Therefore, it is also imperative to address the challenges and limitations that hinder the seamless integration of the new technologies.

The construction industry is undergoing a digital transformation, with the digital twin serving as a core system for project information. This digital twin provides an opportunity to utilize AR technology for real-time verification of on-site project information. Although many AR developments for construction sites have been attempted, they have been limited to accessing information on stationary components via Building Information Models. There have been no attempts to access information on dynamically changing resources, such as personnel and equipment. This paper addresses this gap by presenting an AR framework that enables site managers to verify real-time information on specific personnel or equipment. It introduces a matching algorithm for retrieving the necessary information from the digital twin. This algorithm is pivotal in identifying and retrieving the specific information needed from the vast dataset within the digital twin. The matching process integrates object detection and tracking algorithms applied to video frames from AR devices, along with GPS and IMU sensor data. Experimental results demonstrate the potential of this matching algorithm to streamline on-site management and reduce the effort required to interact with digital twin information. This paper highlights the transformative potential of AR and digital twin technologies in revolutionizing construction site operations.

In the global context, advancements in technology and science have rendered virtual, augmented, and mixed-reality technologies capable of transforming clinical care and medical environments by offering enhanced features and improved healthcare services. This paper aims to present a mixed reality-based system to control a robotic wheelchair for people with limited mobility. The test group comprised 11 healthy subjects (six male, five female, mean age 35.2 ± 11.7 years). A novel platform that integrates a smart wheelchair and an eye-tracking-enabled head-mounted display was proposed to reduce the cognitive requirements needed for wheelchair movement and control. The approach’s effectiveness was demonstrated by evaluating our system in realistic scenarios. The demonstration of the proposed AR head-mounted display user interface for controlling a smart wheelchair and the results provided in this paper could highlight the potential of the HoloLens 2-based innovative solutions and bring focus to emerging research topics, such as remote control, cognitive rehabilitation, the implementation of patient autonomy with severe disabilities, and telemedicine.

This paper presents a fully automated experimental setup tailored for evaluating the effectiveness of augmented and virtual reality technologies in healthcare settings for regulatory purposes, with a focus on the characterization of depth sensors. The setup is constructed as a modular benchtop platform that enables quantitative analysis of depth cameras essential for extended reality technologies in a controlled environment. We detail a design concept and considerations for an experimental configuration aimed at simulating realistic scenarios for head-mounted displays. The system includes an observation platform equipped with a three-degree-of-freedom motorized system and a test object stage. To accurately replicate real-world scenarios, we utilized an array of sensors, including commonly available range-sensing cameras and commercial augmented reality headsets, notably the Intel RealSense L515 LiDAR camera, integrated into the motion control system. The paper elaborates on the system architecture and the automated data collection process. We discuss several evaluation studies performed with this setup, examining factors such as spatial resolution, Z-accuracy, and pixel-to-pixel correlation. These studies provide valuable insights into the precision and reliability of these technologies in simulated healthcare environments.

The advancement of Augmented Reality (AR) technology has been remarkable, enabling the augmentation of user perception with timely information. This progress holds great promise in the field of interaction design. However, the mere advancement of technology is not enough to ensure widespread adoption. The user dimension has been somewhat overlooked in AR research due to a lack of attention to user motivations, needs, usability, and perceived value. The critical aspects of AR technology tend to be overshadowed by the technology itself. To ensure appropriate future assessments, it is necessary to thoroughly examine and categorize all the methods used for AR technology validation. By identifying and classifying these evaluation methods, researchers and practitioners will be better equipped to develop and validate new AR techniques and applications. Therefore, comprehensive and systematic evaluations are critical to the advancement and sustainability of AR technology. This paper presents a theoretical framework derived from a cluster analysis of the most efficient evaluation methods for AR extracted from 399 papers. Evaluation methods were clustered according to the application domains and the human–computer interaction aspects to be investigated. This framework should facilitate rapid development cycles prioritizing user requirements, ultimately leading to groundbreaking interaction methods accessible to a broader audience beyond research and development centers.