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Mesocrystals introduce high‐level orders, such as chirality, topology, and hierarchy to the crystallography, and thus bring collective and emergent properties beyond traditional crystals. Orthogonally modulating the multiple degrees of light is highly pursued to fully explore the intrinsic multidimensional and large‐scale parallel processing capability of photon informatics. Unfortunately, it is unachievable with traditional light–matter interaction systems. Here, the multi‐degree light modulation is realized based on the hierarchical architecture of a soft mesocrystal. High‐quality monodomains of both blue phase I and blue phase II are formed via regulating the assembly of liquid crystals by photoalignment anchoring and electricity. The mapping relationship between optical freedoms (the spin, wavelength, and geometric phase of light) and hierarchical structures (the chirality of helix, lattice constant, and the azimuthal orientation of cubic lattices) is established. Omnidirectional spatial phase modulation with spin and full color selectivity is demonstrated. Based on the multi‐degree light modulation, 3D and wavelength‐selective orbital angular momentum generation as well as multichannel color holographic display are presented. This work extends the fundamental understanding of blue phase mesocrystals and provides a promising strategy for large‐scale parallel and multi‐degree light modulation that may be utilized in vital fields, such as supercomputing, optical communications, and virtual/augmented realities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precise planning and execution is key for neuroendoscopic interventions, which can be based on different available aiding technologies. The aim of this retrospective study is to report a case-based use of guided neuroendoscopy and to develop a stratification algorithm for the available technologies. We reviewed consecutive neuroendoscopic cases performed at our center from 2016 to 2018. We distinguished between patients receiving a new burr hole (group A) and those with a preexisting burr hole (group B). Case-specific technical requirements for procedure planning and execution, complication rate, surgical outcome, and possible subsequent surgery were evaluated. From this experience, a stratification system was developed to tailor the available guiding technologies. A total of 309 neuroendoscopic interventions in 243 patients were included in the present study. The cases included hydrocephalic (81.6%) and nonhydrocephalic (18.4%) conditions. The interventions were supported by coordinate-based (group A, n = 49; group B, n = 67), guide-based (group A, n = 42; group B, n = 0), ultrasound-guided (group A, n = 50; group B, n = 7), or navigated augmented reality-guided (group A, n = 85; group B, n = 9) techniques. The overall complication rate was 4.5%. Stratified by the surgical indication, fontanel status, entry point localization, presence of a preexisting burr hole, ventricular size, and number of targets, an approach toward image-guided neuroendoscopy is suggested. Planning and technical guidance is essential in neuroendoscopic procedures. The stratified decision-making algorithm for different available technologies aims to achieve lower cost and time consumption, which was found to be safe and efficient. Further investigations are warranted to deliver solid data on procedure efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The shortcomings of established input methods for Augmented Reality (AR) head-mounted displays (HMDs) motivate us to investigate the use of AR HMDs with smartphones and smartwatches to improve AR interaction in physical tasks. However, it is unclear whether the cross-device interaction interfaces are efficient for AR systems on physical tasks because the physical tasks can break the interaction flow. In this work, we conducted a user study to explore this. The user study consists of three subtasks, respectively requiring one of the three representative user interface (UI) controls (buttons, sliders, or text input). We implemented them with mid-air gestures, a smartphone, and a smartwatch. We compared the three interfaces and found that the smartphone and the smartwatch interaction interfaces have greater usability, provide a better user experience, and have lower workloads than the mid-air gesture interface. However, there is no significant difference in terms of efficiency for simple interactions. We discuss the limitations of this research and directions for future work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interaction with virtual objects is one of the essential features of Augmented Reality (AR) systems. One of its main issues is how to provide precise manipulation of distant virtual objects in AR. In this work, we explore bare-hand manipulation of distant objects in AR with DOF (degree-of-freedom) separation, motion scaling, and near-field metaphors. We developed two manipulation techniques: the distant widget-based metaphor (DWBM), and the near-field widget-based metaphor (NFWBM). We conducted a user study with 20 participants to compare the two techniques in terms of performance and user experience. We found that NFWBM has faster speed, lower mental effort, better ease-of-use, and a friendlier user experience. However, there is no significant difference in terms of precision; both techniques could manipulate distant objects precisely, with an average position error of less than 0.7 cm and an average orientational error of less than 1°. We also discussed the limitations of this research and directions for future work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Holographic Optical Elements (HOEs) employ refractive index (RI) modulation to manipulate light, establishing their widespread application in augmented and virtual reality technologies. Despite significant strides in HOEs' fabrication, a comprehensive 3D examination and measurement of these elements remain largely unexplored. This study targets this void by conducting an in‐depth exploration of the 3D RI distributions of volume holographic gratings (VHGs), a quintessential representative of HOEs. Direct tomographic measurements of the 3D RI distributions within millimeter‐scale VHGs are performed at a spatial resolution of 156 nm × 156 nm × 1.2 µm and an RI precision of 2×10−4. This level of precision facilitates a systematic high‐resolution characterization of VHGs. The findings present a substantial evolution from traditional measurement techniques and promise to considerably advance the evaluation of intricate HOE structures and refine the corresponding fabrication processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immersive learning technologies offer K–12 English learners simulated contexts for language acquisition through virtual interactions, influencing learner attitudes and enhancing cross-curricular skills. While past literature reviews have explored learners' English skills and emotions, few have delved into the learning effectiveness of immersive technologies for K–12 students. This systematic review analyzed 33 studies from 2012 to 2021, focusing on research designs, the role of immersive technologies in English learning, and the theoretical underpinnings of these studies. Results highlight the methods used to gauge learning effectiveness, the ways immersive technologies bolster learners' attitudes and skills, and a noticeable gap in theoretical grounding. Recommendations for future research are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:Augmented reality head-worn displays (HWDs) may enable efficient remote support in the prehospital environment due to their hand-free operability, their "see-what-I-see" features, and their ability to superimpose digital content over the environment. Methods:In this simulation-based randomized controlled study, a remote mentor used either a phone or HWD to instruct 23 physicians on how to insert a Multi-Lumen Access Catheter into a mannequin. In the phone condition, information could be exchanged only verbally. In the HWD condition, the mentor could additionally see the participant's first-person view and show reference images. We hypothesized that participants who received instructions via the HWD would achieve better procedural performance (lower task completion times, fewer errors advancing the catheter) and exhibit different communication patterns than participants who received instructions via phone. Results:The HWD did not significantly reduce task completion times or errors during catheter advancement. However, by analyzing the frequency of communication events with a Poisson regression, we could demonstrate that with the HWD, the mentor had to request situation reports less often (p < 0.001) but provided more instructions (p = 0.004) and more feedback (p = 0.008). As a possible consequence, participants in the HWD condition rated their workload as lower than participants who used a phone to communicate (p = 0.45). Conclusion:The study demonstrates that HWD-based telemedicine systems can be rated positively by physicians, can benefit communication, and can provide more opportunities for the detection of clinical errors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the field of three-dimensional (3D) visualization rapidly advances, how healthcare professionals perceive and interact with real and virtual objects becomes increasingly complex. Lack of clear vocabulary to navigate the changing landscape of 3D visualization hinders clinical and scientific advancement, particularly within the field of radiology. In this article, we provide foundational definitions and illustrative examples for 3D visualization in clinical care, with a focus on the pediatric patient population. We also describe how understanding 3D visualization tools enables better alignment of hardware and software products with intended use-cases, thereby maximizing impact for patients, families, and healthcare professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving cooperation between individuals is challenging and often driven by self-beneficial motives. On the other hand, people also seem capable of subordinating their personal interests and of engaging in cooperation for motives other than their own, i.e. out of altruistic impulses. One context in which both motivational facets can be observed is multiplayer online games. However, there is a lack of knowledge about how cooperation based on altruism and egoism develops in games, which also prevents us from transferring this knowledge as a form of gamification. In this study, we explore which game features are accountable for altruistic and egoistic sentiment, and how these distinctive demeanours induce cooperation in games, with the intent to also derive implications for gamification. We employ we-intention and I-intention theory and conduct a survey among players of the game Ingress (N = 206). Our findings imply that (1) cooperative game design can give rise to within-group altruism in form of enjoyment in helping others and cooperative goals, (2) altruism can lead to the formation of we-intentions, and (3) individualistic game features invoke I-intentions and self-centered motivations in games in the form of recognition-seeking. Theoretical and practical implications are provided for cooperative game and gamification design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In E-commerce, one of the most essential reasons of company failures is conveying the right content of their product to the customers at the wrong time. This could include the company inability to adapt to their environment dynamically. With the existence of special circumstances like COVID-19 pandemic, companies require launching new techs, if they are to grow and stay competitive, and since the technology and related factors have a major effect on marketing success, "Systems Dynamic" sounds like a suitable tool in this regard. This article discusses augmented reality (AR) roles in contextual marketing (CM) using a system dynamics approach. After the identification of the key variables in both augmented technology and CM fields, casual relationships are defined. Then, the mathematical functions between these variables are extracted and the behavior of each factor is analyzed. Finally, based on this behavioral model, various scenarios are simulated to demonstrate how augmented reality technology can enhance the CM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the needs of augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR), smart contact lenses (SCL) have become an important platform as a display source in the future consumer market. Accordingly, this paper demonstrates a display device based on contact lenses. This device integrates a 3 × 3 Mini‐LED display array, a micro antenna, and a driver and transmission chip and is packaged in a smart contact lens made of hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA). It is note that in order to simultaneously meet the goals of wearing comfort, biocompatibility, wireless energy transmission and adjustable display functions, the final package thickness needs to be less than 200 μm. Here, we use heterogeneous packaging technology to connect the driver and transmission chip and the Mini‐LED display array with metal wires on the flexible substrate, and use metal wires on the same conductive layer to design the antenna required for wireless energy transmission. In order to complete the above functions, we use 920 MHz RFID technology as the energy source for wireless energy transmission. When the antenna of the RFID reader is 2 cm away from the smart contact lens, the designed receiving chip can receive 100 μW of energy. After converting this energy to DC 3 V, it can drive Mini‐LED with a current of about 30 μA, and the mini‐LED display array can be instantly controlled to display different contents by transmitting display commands through the RFID protocol. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients with incurable corneal diseases experience visual impairment (VI) despite having a healthy retina and optic pathway. Low-vision aids (LVAs) can optimize the use of remaining vision through magnification and contrast enhancement, but do not harness the full visual capacity because they rely on the optic media. Therefore, we investigated a novel laser eyewear (LEW) technology that bypasses the anterior segment of the eye. Images captured by an integrated camera are projected directly onto the retina using a low-energy laser. The patient is able to view a full-color video, realized as augmented reality. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the LEW to enhance the vision of individuals with corneal diseases. Prospective, randomized, crossover clinical trial. We examined the retinal projection glasses in 21 patients (25–69 years) with VI (0.7 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution [logMAR] or worse) resulting from corneal diseases. Patients with comorbidities that impact vision, such as retinal disorders, were excluded. Standardized measurements of visual acuity (VA) for near vision (NV) and distance vision (DV) were conducted using ETDRS charts with the respective best correction (BC) and then with LEW. In addition reading speed, vision-related quality of life (QoL) and capacity to carry out daily tasks were assessed at an initial visit and at 2 subsequent visits after a home phase with and without the device. Six weeks after last use of the LEW, an ophthalmologic examination including spectral-domain-OCT or full-field-electroretinography was conducted and compared with baseline findings to evaluate the safety of the device. Four patients participated and completed a subsequent 12-month follow-up phase. Improvement of VA using the LEW. Secondary objectives included safety, reading speed, QoL, and usability in daily activities. The mean VA in patients with VI was improved by 0.43 logMAR in DV using the LEW compared with BC (P < 0.0001). Using the ×2 magnification mode of the LEW resulted in an average improvement of 0.66 logMAR compared with BC (P < 0.0001). In NV, an increase of 0.47 logMAR was achieved compared with BC (P < 0.0001). Although only 4 of 21 participants were able to read with BC, 17 of 21 participants were able to read with the LEW. Quality of life significantly improved in the 17 participants who completed all visits. We demonstrated that the retinal projection glasses resulted in enhanced VA for all participants by directly projecting images onto the intact retina. In future, the LEW could represent a new option as an LVA for patients with corneal diseases. No pathological alterations were observed in the safety assessments. The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study used a virtual environment to examine how older and younger pedestrians responded to simulated augmented reality (AR) overlays that indicated the crossability of gaps in a continuous stream of traffic. Background: Older adults represent a vulnerable group of pedestrians. AR has the potential to make the task of street-crossing safer and easier for older adults. Method: We used an immersive virtual environment to conduct a study with age group and condition as between-subjects factors. In the control condition, older and younger participants crossed a continuous stream of traffic without simulated AR overlays. In the AR condition, older and younger participants crossed with simulated AR overlays signaling whether gaps between vehicles were safe or unsafe to cross. Participants were subsequently interviewed about their experience. Results: We found that participants were more selective in their crossing decisions and took safer gaps in the AR condition as compared to the control condition. Older adult participants also reported reduced mental and physical demand in the AR condition compared to the control condition. Conclusion: AR overlays that display the crossability of gaps between vehicles have the potential to make street-crossing safer and easier for older adults. Additional research is needed in more complex real-world scenarios to further examine how AR overlays impact pedestrian behavior. Application: With rapid advances in autonomous vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian communication technologies, it is critical to study how pedestrians can be better supported. Our research provides key insights for ways to improve pedestrian safety applications using emerging technologies like AR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying road obstacles hidden from the driver's field of view can ensure road safety in transportation. Current driver assistance systems such as 2D head‐up displays are limited to the projection area on the windshield of the car. An augmented reality holographic point cloud video projection system is developed to display objects aligned with real‐life objects in size and distance within the driver's field of view. Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) point cloud data collected with a 3D laser scanner is transformed into layered 3D replay field objects consisting of 400 k points. GPU‐accelerated computing generated real‐time holograms 16.6 times faster than the CPU processing time. The holographic projections are obtained with a Spatial Light Modulator (SLM) (3840×2160 px) and virtual Fresnel lenses, which enlarged the driver's eye box to 25 mm × 36 mm. Real‐time scanned road obstacles from different perspectives provide the driver a full view of risk factors such as generated depth in 3D mode and the ability to project any scanned object from different angles in 360°. The 3D holographic projection technology allows for maintaining the driver's focus on the road instead of the windshield and enables assistance by projecting road obstacles hidden from the driver's field of view. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The installation and commissioning of production units are crucial for establishing efficient production systems. However, current approaches frequently face challenges such as lengthy commissioning cycles, low productivity, and limited intelligence. This study aims to leverage the synergistic capabilities of augmented reality (AR) technology and digital twin technology in the context of Industry 4.0 to address the challenges faced in production commissioning. Therefore, to achieve intelligent commissioning, optimize the installation and commissioning process of production systems and increase productivity. This paper proposes a novel virtual-real fusion commissioning method utilizing AR for production commissioning. Initially, a digital twin modeling and process planning simulation method is introduced for virtual-real fusion production units; secondly, real-time commissioning and fusion display of the production process are enabled through AR technology; lastly, the approach is applied to the operation and commissioning of the motor rotor–embedded wire production unit. The results demonstrate that the system can simulate the entire production logic and operation even in the absence of certain equipment while visualizing the production process and product status. Furthermore, compared to traditional physical production commissioning, this method has achieved a 43.6% reduction in the commissioning cycle and resulted in space cost savings of 21.8%. Subsequent applications validate the soundness of the proposed modeling and fusion commissioning approach and provide practical theoretical and methodological guidance for digital twin modeling and production commissioning in production systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metasurfaces are recently incorporated with waveguides for in‐plane wave manipulation and extraction, enhancing the capability and design flexibility of integrated photonic devices. However, the unique guided‐wave‐driven scheme poses challenges in achieving multiplexed functionality for on‐chip integrated metasurfaces. Here, an on‐chip direction‐multiplexing strategy is proposed and demonstrated for high‐capacity 3D multiplane projection in free space. By exploring and utilizing the direction‐dependence of the guided‐wave‐driven detour phase manipulation, a 16‐channel on‐chip holography is realized with different images independently encoded at distinct z planes for all four illumination directions. Moreover, the on‐chip full‐space 3D holography is demonstrated by exploiting the conjugated relation of the optical responses driven by the opposite on‐chip illuminations, enabling observation of a total of 16 holographic images in full‐space. The demonstrated on‐chip direction‐multiplexed holography exhibits low background noise or crosstalk and offers high information density and quality, which shows promise for practical applications in data storage, 3D display, and virtual/augmented reality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractAugmented reality has promised a new paradigm in medical education. Multimedia videos are the most preferred assent for augmentation. So, this study aimed to assess the effect of using an augmented reality infographic poster for delivering micro-videos on the knowledge and satisfaction of medical students in cardiology rotation. Sixty students participated in this quasi-experimental study and were allocated to three study groups; namely routine method, routine method plus offline micro-video delivery, and routine method plus micro-video delivery in an augmented reality infographic poster. The students’ knowledge and satisfaction were evaluated through a multiple-choice question pre and post-test and a satisfaction questionnaire respectively. Within-group comparison of pre and post-test scores showed a significant increase in each study group (all p-values = 0.000). The highest post-test score was for the offline micro-video delivery group and pairwise comparisons of post-test scores showed a significant difference between this group and the control one (p-value = 0.013). Additionally, the augmented reality infographic poster group had the highest satisfaction score (p-value = 0.000). This experience showed the positive effect of micro-videos in clinical education. Although students were satisfied with accessing these videos through an augmented reality infographic poster, their knowledge acquisition was better when they received them offline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, technological advancements have transformed the industry, highlighting the efficiency of automation and safety. The integration of augmented reality (AR) and gesture recognition has emerged as an innovative approach to create interactive environments for industrial equipment. Gesture recognition enhances AR applications by allowing intuitive interactions. This study presents a web-based architecture for the integration of AR and gesture recognition, designed to interact with industrial equipment. Emphasizing hardware-agnostic compatibility, the proposed structure offers an intuitive interaction with equipment control systems through natural gestures. Experimental validation, conducted using Google Glass, demonstrated the practical viability and potential of this approach in industrial operations. The development focused on optimizing the system's software and implementing techniques such as normalization, clamping, conversion, and filtering to achieve accurate and reliable gesture recognition under different usage conditions. The proposed approach promotes safer and more efficient industrial operations, contributing to research in AR and gesture recognition. Future work will include improving the gesture recognition accuracy, exploring alternative gestures, and expanding the platform integration to improve the user experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Augmented Reality (AR) has the potential to help drivers become aware of invisible hazards through an Augmented Reality Head-Up Display (AR-HUD). However, this issue is still underexplored. To address it, a novel warning system for invisible dangers in AR-HUD user interfaces has been designed as a carrier for agents' cognitive information to enhance driver perception. This design was created by using a team cooperation perception model that combined the perception cycle of a human driver with a computational agent. Furthermore, user experiments were conducted to investigate the impact of this design on safe driving in two typical scenarios. The experimental results showed that this design can significantly improve drivers' situation awareness and reaction time in both human-driving and auto-pilot modes, and enhance human drivers' trust in the auto-pilot system. The model and design can be generalized to more AR-HUD scenarios requiring human-machine perception and cognitive cooperation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sketching is a common way to depict design ideas freely. Augmented reality technology extends the human–computer interaction space from the screen to the real world, providing a new application space for 3D sketching. However, due to the difficulty of depth perception, it is difficult for sketching strokes to maintain good planar and spatial consistency, making drawing 3D sketches in AR challenging. In this article, we propose FMASketch—a method of drawing mid-air sketches similar to building blocks. The auxiliary surfaces can ensure that the strokes drawn by users can always stay on the same plane as drawing in 2D space. Gestures are used to stitch together multiple drawing planes, and the strokes on the planes form a 3D sketch, which is very similar to how 3D modeling is done on the desktop by drawing different views and assembling them. Experiments have verified the effectiveness of the auxiliary surface generation method and gesture operations in this article. The mid-air sketching method is easy to learn and provides a new idea for rapid modeling in AR scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gamified and immersive educational interventions have proven to be powerful motivators to encourage participation in unattractive activities, and human–computer interaction (HCI) is crucial for the successful development of such educational interventions. However, existing interaction methods suffer from either visuo-tactile inconsistency or unfriendly interaction methods, resulting in an unenjoyable user experience. Hence, in this article, the visuo-tactile interaction design based on Norman's design principles (visibility, feedback, constraint, consistency, affordance, and mapping) and spatial augmented reality (SAR) for intuitive cultural education is proposed for the first time, and an application for Chinese chess, SARChess, is implemented as a case study. Players interact with tangible chess pieces rather than through a digital interface, and the visual output and tangible input are integrated seamlessly to achieve high-level visuo-tactile consistency. Furthermore, a mixed investigation method based on pretest–posttest design, subjective questionnaires, and theme-based interviews was designed and performed to evaluate the user experience, learning performance, and player motivation of SARChess from both objective and subjective perspectives. The results show that SARChess has a significantly better user experience, learning performance, and player motivation than conventional chess and mouse-interaction-based chess, and the unique gameplay and visual cues in SARChess make it more engaging to participants. Additionally, this study finds and summarizes some design implications for applying design principles to traditional cultural education applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Objectives Methods Results and Conclusions This paper examines the use of augmented reality (AR) as a concept‐association tool in schools, with the aim of enhancing primary school students' learning outcomes and engagement. Conflicting findings exist in previous studies regarding the cognitive load of AR‐enriched learning, with some reporting reduced load and others indicating increased demand and poorer performance. Understanding these implications is essential for effectively leveraging AR in education. The study offers a fresh perspective on the potential of AR technology in improving educational experiences.The primary goal of this research was to evaluate the effectiveness of an AR‐assisted concept‐association strategy for improving essential knowledge acquisition and skills outcomes, increasing cognitive load, and increasing self‐efficacy and learning motivation among primary school students.A quasi‐experimental design with a control group was employed to investigate the effectiveness of the intervention.The results demonstrate that the implementation of the AR‐assisted concept‐association strategy effectively enhanced essential knowledge acquisition and skills outcomes, increased cognitive load, and increased self‐efficacy and learning motivation among primary school students. These findings highlight the potential of AR technology to improve the learning experience and engagement of primary school students. The study contributes to the existing literature on the effectiveness of AR technology in education, suggesting future research directions. Ultimately, it offers a practical solution for improving the learning experience by presenting a new approach for teaching using AR technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AR technology allows users to interact with virtual objects in real-world settings. Immersive AR experiences can enhance creativity and possibilities. Learners can explore real-life situations in a safe, controlled environment, understand abstract concepts and solve problems. This study investigates whether AR-codes affect boxing beginners' performance in some fundamental defensive techniques. An experimental and control group were created to implement a quasi-experimental design. By using the ASSURE instructional design model, AR technology was incorporated into the educational program and delivered in flipped classroom method to the experimental group. Comparatively, the control group is taught a program using a teacher's command style. A post-measurement of defensive boxing skills was conducted for both groups. Participants were 60 boxing beginners aged 12 to 14 who had enrolled in Port Fouad Sports Club's 2023/2024 training season in Port Said, Egypt. Randomly, participants were divided into control and experimental groups. They were homogenized and equivalent in terms of age, height, weight, IQ, physical fitness, and skill level. According to the study results, the experimental group performed better in post-measurements than the control group. The AR Codes technology had a large effect size on the learning of boxing defensive skills under study. Consequently, it is necessary to use AR Codes technology as an educational resource to enhance the learning process, integrate it with active learning strategies, and use it to teach defensive boxing skills and apply them to offensive and counterattack skills, thereby improving the learning process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Augmented reality (AR) has been used for navigation during total hip arthroplasty (THA). AR computed tomography (CT)-based navigation systems and AR-based portable navigation systems that use smartphones can also be used. This study compared the accuracy of cup insertion during THA using AR-CT-based and portable AR-based navigation systems. Patients with symptomatic hip disease who underwent primary THA in the supine position using both AR CT-based and portable AR-based navigation systems simultaneously between October 2021 and July 2023 were included. The primary outcome of this study was the absolute difference between cup angles in the intraoperative navigation record and those measured on postoperative CT. The secondary outcome was to determine the factors affecting the absolute value of the navigation error in radiographic inclination (RI) and radiographic anteversion (RA) of the cup, including sex, age, body mass index, left or right side, approach, and preoperative pelvic tilt. This study included 94 consecutive patients. There were 11 men and 83 women, with a mean age of 68 years. The mean absolute errors of RI were 2.7° ± 2.0° in the AR CT-based and 3.3° ± 2.4° in the portable AR-based navigation system. The mean absolute errors of RA were 2.5° ± 2.1° in the AR CT-based navigation system and 2.3° ± 2.2° in the portable AR-based navigation system. No significant differences were observed in RI or RA of the cup between the two navigation systems (RI: p = 0.706; RA: p = 0.329). No significant factors affected the absolute value of the navigation errors in RI and RA. In conclusion, there were no differences in the accuracy of cup insertion between the AR CT-based and portable AR-based navigation systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today, the global prevalence of autism is high and continues to increase dramatically. Effective support and interventions are therefore warranted. Augmented reality (AR), one of the recent modalities of immersive technology, is gaining traction in autism interventions. However, there is currently a lack of reviews on the use of AR in children with autism, and what is more, to the authors' knowledge, no systematic review to date has been carried out to exclusively examine the effects of AR on basic social skills in children with autism. Therefore, an evidence-based systematic review was conducted to fill the gap and answer the specific research question: Can AR support children with an autism diagnosis towards developing or promoting social skills, such as greetings? The initial search yielded a total of 416 records. After excluding duplicate articles and screening the abstract and full text, 13 studies were included for analysis. A narrative approach was employed to synthesise and evaluate the research findings to substantially explore the effects of AR-based social interventions. The favourable role of AR technology in fostering social skills in children diagnosed with autism was widely recognised in the included studies although multiple methodological limitations were identified in relation to the quality of the included studies. Overall, the promising findings may suggest the effectiveness of AR in improving social skills in children with autism. Nonetheless, this field of research still calls for more high-quality studies relying on rigorous methodologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to determine the extent of virtual reality (VR)/augmented reality (AR) adoption in university libraries in Indonesia and identify librarians' views of library readiness. The assessment centers on two crucial dimensions: library readiness, gauged by commitment and efficacy, and librarian readiness, appraised through cognitive and affective aspects. Design/methodology/approach: The research features a survey-based quantitative method. A sample of 259 librarians from university libraries, all members of the Indonesian Higher Education Library Forum, responded to the online survey. Findings: Indonesian university libraries, especially in Central Java, express strong interest in VR/AR despite low current adoption. Librarians believe in their commitment and efficacy for adoption, with improvements needed in budget procurement and human resources. Librarians are optimistic about innovating academic activities with VR/AR, despite concerns about collaboration, data governance and human resource insecurity. The research underscores the simultaneous influence of librarians' and libraries' readiness on VR/AR adoption, emphasizing their interconnectedness and mutual support within library management. Practical implications: There are practical implications for library institutions in Indonesia in terms of understanding the attendant opportunities and challenges when preparing organizational ecosystems. These findings provide a broad overview of VR/AR adoption in university libraries in Indonesia and contribute to understanding the specific needs and interests of universities in Indonesia considering adopting VR/AR. In addition to preparing adequate infrastructure, libraries should ensure the availability of adequate human resources. Originality/value: In the Indonesian context, this study, to the best of the authors' knowledge, makes the first attempt to examine the librarian's view as part of library management to face the dilemmas that may arise during the adoption of VR/AR despite university libraries' commitment and efficacy to enable this technology. This research also identifies librarians' cognitive and affective readiness as individual characteristics and resources able to influence adequate adoption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Throughout history, the significance of land and buildings as valuable assets, sources of authority, and drivers of economic prosperity has been widely recognized, spanning from ancient civilizations to contemporary societies. Cities have inherent value due to their ability to facilitate good interactions among individuals. The significance of the real estate sector as an investment vehicle has been growing. Companies, particularly those seeking to make new investments in the commercial real estate sector, are particularly interested in achieving a high degree of potential for their ventures. Turkey is a nation that has a significant position in this industry. In this study, the real estate sector in Turkey, housing sales according to type and situation, city management, the real estate market, the impact of COVID-19 on real estate markets, real estate marketing and technologies, and the advantages and disadvantages of technologies in real estate are examined. Furthermore, an analysis was conducted on the data pertaining to housing transactions in Turkey, categorizing them based on the kind of sale and the condition of the properties. When the data is examined, housing sales in Turkey are the highest in 2020. Housing sales decreased after 2020, and there was a large decrease in housing sales in 2023. As a result, to develop real estate marketing and revitalize this sector, it is necessary to invest in technologies such as artificial intelligence, the metaverse, augmented reality, virtual reality and increase the number of studies in the literature where these digital technologies are applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immersive journalism is a recent field of research focusing on digital technologies such as augmented reality (AR), 360° video, and virtual reality (VR). This research analyzed 69 academic articles published in the Web of Science from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2021, using a systematic review of scientific literature (SLR). The prevalence of media effects and quantitative methodologies in investigating immersive journalism was demonstrated. The corpus analysis shows the recurrence of some key macro-concepts. We propose grouping these macro-concepts into affordances (presence, embodiment, and interactivity) and gratifications (comprehension, credibility, emotional engagement, and empathy), which affect in different extents the cognition, affectivity, and behavior of the users. This review highlights the need to expand and combine different theories and methodologies. Another important recommendation is to create specific frameworks for analyzing immersive news stories and examining their various narrative and aesthetic characteristics during both production and post-production. This article discusses the ethical and normative concerns of journalism in relation to current and future research in VR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elizabeth McLain interviews CripTech incubator artist Andy Slater about Unseen Sound (2023), his work for E.A.A.T.: Experiments in Art, Access and Technology. Slater discusses accessibility as artistic practice, the exclusion of blind folks from augmented and extended reality, and experimental art's capacity for fostering access intimacy. While developing Unseen Sound, Slater experienced failures in access and technology. Hyperactive listening—the key to Slater's creative practice— enabled him to pivot and continue the fight for accessible extended reality (XR) technology. In the process, he makes the case for a brilliant blind future by making noise in public spaces and leaning into the weirdness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Studies have shown that the introduction of multidisciplinary tumour boards can have a positive impact on the survival of cancer patients. By bringing together the different disciplines involved in the treatment of cancer patients, tumour boards provide an interdisciplinary approach to decision-making in the treatment of oncological diseases. Tumour boards have become an integral part of treatment planning. However, their preparation is time-consuming and labour-intensive. The multiplicity of sources and clinical systems makes common communication difficult and consumes a lot of resources. Mixed reality technology could provide the necessary information as an interactive user interface. This is a new digital holographic imaging technology that can generate virtual 3D objects in space from radiological sectional images. A mixed-reality-based software prototype will be developed to analyse whether and to what extent this technology is suitable as a platform for decision making in the head and neck tumour board. The preparation and implementation of interdisciplinary oncological case reviews are time-consuming and complex. The variety of clinical and radiological information must be presented in a clear and comprehensible manner. Only if all relevant patient-specific information is demonstrated in a short time frame can well-founded treatment decisions be made on this basis. Mixed reality (MR) technology as a multimodal interactive user interface could enhance understanding in multidisciplinary collaboration by visualising radiological or clinical data. The aim of the work was to develop an MR-based software prototype for a head and neck tumour board (HNTB) to support clinical decision-making. The article describes the development phases and workflows in the planning and creation of a MR-based software prototype that were required to meet the multidisciplinary characteristics of a HNTB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital game technologies, that is, games and emerging game-based applications, are pervasively spread in society as a means of entertainment, education and exercise, amongst other uses. With this popularity, attention has been directed towards the accessibility of these technologies to people with disabilities to ensure equity, equal access to opportunities and realize earnings from a significant customer group. This study investigates: How is the attention of academic game accessibility research divided across game technologies, disability categories and use domains? And where is attention needed? To answer these questions, I conducted a review of research (162 manuscripts) on game technologies' accessibility published between 2016 and 2020, inclusive. The reviewed literature appears to have a utility focus (e.g. on education and health management) that relatively de-emphasizes the importance of game accessibility for entertainment or fun purposes. Auditory, motor and mobility disabilities, and emerging gamification, exergames, virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are especially under researched in the academic domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Three-dimensional reconstructions of state-of-the-art high-resolution imaging are progressively being used more for preprocedural assessment in thoracic surgery. It is a promising tool that aims to improve patient-specific treatment planning, for example, for minimally invasive or robotic-assisted lung resections. Increasingly available mixed-reality hardware based on video pass-through technology enables the projection of image data as a hologram onto the patient. We describe the novel method of real-time 3D surgical planning in a mixed-reality setting by presenting three representative cases utilizing volume rendering. Materials: A mixed-reality system was set up using a high-performance workstation running a video pass-through-based head-mounted display. Image data from computer tomography were imported and volume-rendered in real-time to be customized through live editing. The image-based hologram was projected onto the patient, highlighting the regions of interest. Results: Three oncological cases were selected to explore the potentials of the mixed-reality system. Two of them presented large tumor masses in the thoracic cavity, while a third case presented an unclear lesion of the chest wall. We aligned real-time rendered 3D holographic image data onto the patient allowing us to investigate the relationship between anatomical structures and their respective body position. Conclusions: The exploration of holographic overlay has proven to be promising in improving preprocedural surgical planning, particularly for complex oncological tasks in the thoracic surgical field. Further studies on outcome-related surgical planning and navigation should therefore be conducted. Ongoing technological progress of extended reality hardware and intelligent software features will most likely enhance applicability and the range of use in surgical fields within the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Augmented reality (AR) navigation systems are emerging to simplify and enhance the precision of medical procedures. Lumbosacral transforaminal epidural injection is a commonly performed procedure for the treatment and diagnosis of radiculopathy. Accurate needle placement while avoiding critical structures remains a challenge. For this purpose, we conducted a randomized controlled trial for our augmented reality navigation system. Methods: This randomized controlled study involved 28 patients, split between a traditional C-arm guided group (control) and an AR navigation guided group (AR-NAVI), to compare procedure efficiency and radiation exposure. The AR-NAVI group used a real-time tracking system displaying spinal structure and needle position on an AR head-mounted display. The procedural time and C-arm usage (radiation exposure) were measured. Results: All patients underwent successful procedures without complications. The AR-NAVI group demonstrated significantly reduced times and C-arm usage for needle entry to the target point (58.57 ± 33.31 vs. 124.91 ± 41.14, p < 0.001 and 3.79 ± 1.97 vs. 8.86 ± 3.94, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The use of the AR navigation system significantly improved procedure efficiency and safety by reducing time and radiation exposure, suggesting a promising direction for future enhancements and validation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Semantic segmentation from a three‐dimensional point cloud is vital in autonomous driving, computer vision, and augmented reality. However, current semantic segmentation does not effectively use the point cloud's local geometric features and contextual information, essential for improving segmentation accuracy. A semantic segmentation network that uses local feature fusion and a multilayer attention mechanism is proposed to address these challenges. Specifically, the authors designed a local feature fusion module to encode the geometric and feature information separately, which fully leverages the point cloud's feature perception and geometric structure representation. Furthermore, the authors designed a multilayer attention pooling module consisting of local attention pooling and cascade attention pooling to extract contextual information. Local attention pooling is used to learn local neighbourhood information, and cascade attention pooling captures contextual information from deeper local neighbourhoods. Finally, an enhanced feature representation of important information is obtained by aggregating the features from the two deep attention pooling methods. Extensive experiments on large‐scale point‐cloud datasets Stanford 3D large‐scale indoor spaces and SemanticKITTI indicate that authors network shows excellent advantages over existing representative methods regarding local geometric feature description and global contextual relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Virtual reality (VR) gaming (VRG) captures, examines, analysis, and renders the game data virtually instead of the users’ devices over efficient networks. E.g., VR is crucial in visually guided surgery and manifold therapies. Video Quality Assessment (VQA) helps VRG software and devices execute high-quality inputs/outputs. This paper debates VRG processes, environments, VQA metrics, Quality of Experience (QoE), platforms, current methods, tools, use in medicine, existing operational gains/challenges, and highlights future directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Im November 2022 ist die Zentralbibliothek im KAP1 mit einer eigenen App an den Start gegangen. Die „Stadtbüchereien Düsseldorf App" bietet den Besucher*innen der Zentralbibliothek ein besonderes Erlebnis, indem sie den realen Ort Bibliothek mit Augmented-Reality-Technologie um virtuelle Elemente erweitert. Gut ein Jahr nach der Eröffnung der neuen Räume erhielten diese mit der App nun eine neue, virtuelle Nutzungsebene. Aufgrund der großzügigen Öffnungszeiten der neuen Zentralbibliothek, auch ohne dass das Bibliotheksteam zur Unterstützung vor Ort ist, war es von Anfang an geplant, umfangreiche digitale Self-Services anzubieten, um die Zentralbibliothek jederzeit eigenständig entdecken und sich zurechtfinden zu können. Mit dem Düsseldorfer Unternehmen und AR-Experten Exponential Dimensions hat das Team nun eine alles andere als typische Bibliotheks-App entwickelt. Der Schwerpunkt liegt, übereinstimmend mit der Leitlinie „Menschen, Bücher, Räume", ganz auf Ort und Besuchenden. Im Juni 2023 erhielt die „Stadtbüchereien Düsseldorf App" international Anerkennung. Sie erhielt den renommierten Auggie Award in der Kategorie „Best Consumer App". Die jährlichen Auggie Awards sind seit 2010 die weltweit anerkanntesten Auszeichnungen der AR- und VR-Branche. In November 2022, the central library in KAP1 launched its own app. The "Stadtbüchereien Düsseldorf App" offers visitors a special experience by adding virtual elements to the real place of the library using augmented reality technology. A year after the opening of the library, the app adds a new, virtual level of use. Due to the generous opening hours of the new central library, even without the library team being on site for support, it is designed to offer extensive digital self-services for users to discover the library independently at any time and to find their way around. With Düsseldorf-based AR experts Exponential Dimensions, a "anything but typical" library app has been developed. In keeping with the principle of "People, Books, Spaces", its focus is entirely on location and visitors. In June 2023, the "Stadtbüchereien Düsseldorf App" got international recognition. It received the prestigious Auggie Award in the category "Best Consumer App". The annual Auggie Awards have been the world's most recognized awards in the AR and VR industry since 2010. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ergonomic‐centric holography is introduced, an algorithmic framework that simultaneously optimizes for realistic incoherent defocus, unrestricted pupil movements in the eye box, and high‐order diffractions for filtering‐free holography. The proposed method outperforms prior algorithms on holographic display prototypes operating in unfiltered and pupil‐mimicking modes, offering the potential to enhance next‐generation virtual and augmented reality experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Augmented reality (AR) technologies may provide immersive visual supports that foster active user engagement in activities. However, there is little research examining the use of AR as a visual support to guide its use in research or therapy settings. Aims: To investigate the development and use of AR for delivering visual supports in an immersive environment, using the Microsoft® HoloLens2® and Microsoft® Dynamics 365 Guides® software. Method: In a duo-ethnography, two speech-language pathologists who were novice users of the HoloLens2®, examined the affordances of the device for potential use in future research with people with neurodevelopmental disability. In a proof-of-concept study, an AR application was designed by the first author and used by two researchers in a duo-ethnography. The first and second author tested the AR guide and reflected on opportunities and barriers to further use of AR technology, specifically the HoloLens2®, to support people with disability to participate and be included in meaningful activities. Results: The guide created provided situated visual instructions, video models, and holographic symbols to direct the second author in making of a cup of tea. While a moderate level of technological literacy was needed to establish and install a guide, effective use could be established with minimal training. Discussion & conclusions: AR guides offer a situated and integrated means of providing visual support to people with disabilities. This proof-of-concept study justifies further testing and evaluation of AR as an assistive technology for people with neurodevelopmental disability. Emerging immersive Augmented Reality technology provides new opportunities to create integrated visual supports that function within the user's environment to enable active participation in activities and interactions. Visual supports integrated with the user's environment may better support people with disability to actively engage and attend to objects and to their communication partners. While new and emerging technologies like Augmented Reality are largely untested for disability support, they offer opportunities to enable participation in independent activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Literature supports the use of technological tools such as augmented reality, 3 D avatars and mobile devices to improve individuals with autism spectrum disorder skills. Possibilities of including these technological tools in intervention and the critical issues related to intervention design are essential research questions. The aim of the current work is to present an interdisciplinary research study on the design of an autism intervention considering these technologies. This study used qualitative evidence and thematic analysis to identify the main design guidelines. A semi-structured interview was administered to a total of twenty participants representing four stakeholder categories: ASD, clinicians, therapists and caregivers. Interviews focussed on three dimensions related to user, technology and environment since they represent a complex system within which the individual using technology is situated. Thematic analysis of the interviews identified a total of 10 themes considered central to the design of the technological intervention. Since the application of technology in autism intervention is a relatively new area, the guidelines related to the potential incentives and barriers of the proposed technology are helpful to inform future treatment studies. This study highlights the strengths and barriers associated with the use of smartphones and augmented reality in autism spectrum disorder interventions considering the dimensions within which the user using assistive technology is located. Strengths and major concerns that emerged are key points to consider during the development of the technological intervention. Considering these points can foster the use of technology within the intervention and promote its effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we present an accurate and quaternion-based solution for the Perspective-n-Point method for determining the position and orientation of a calibrated camera from a set of n 3D points and their corresponding 2D projections on the image plane referred to as AQPnP. Most of the previous PnP methods have not handled the uncertainty of image feature points directly. In the proposed method, uncertainty of image points is integrated into PnP method. This is achieved by mapping the covariance (uncertainty) matrices of the image points to PnP method. It then uses the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) method to minimize the modeled cost function, which has the ability to find the desired solution in real time. The ADMM method solves the system of equations in a manner that is convergent to the global optimal. The ADMM, a widely used operator splitting technique, has drawn significant attention due to its excellent performance in various applications. Quaternion-based rotation parameterization allows AQPnP to be highly accurate in estimating the rotation matrix. We compared AQPnP method with the state-of-the-art PnP methods, and pose estimation results show that our proposed method outperforms better than other methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectively examine the effect of 3D-Augmented Reality anatomic review on craniotomy planning among neurosurgical residents as it pertains to craniotomy size, skull positioning, and knowledge of significant anatomic relationships. Postgraduate year 1-7 neurosurgery residents were instructed to review standard 2D radiographs, pin a skull, and tailor a craniotomy for 6 different lesions and case vignettes. Participants then reviewed the lesion in a 3D-augmented reality (AR) environment, followed by repeating the craniotomy station for a variety of lesion types and locations (superficial, subcortical, deep, skull base). Quiz with case-specific anatomic and surgical questions followed by an exit survey for qualitative impressions. Eleven of thirteen eligible residents participated. Skull position significantly changed in 5 out of 6 cases after 3D-AR view (P < 0.05, 20° angular adjustment). No significant change in incision length or craniotomy size. Subgroup analysis of junior versus senior residents revealed that craniotomy size was significantly altered in 2 out of 6 cases. Qualitative testimonials (Likert scale 5 = strongly agree) reported a change in craniotomy approach after 3D-review (3.5), improved appreciation of anatomy (4.2), increased confidence in surgical approach (4.33 junior residents, 3.5 senior residents), smaller incision (3.5 junior residents, 1.75 senior residents), better appreciation of white matter tracts (4.6). The augmented reality platform offers a medium to examine surgical planning skills. Residents uniformly appreciated 3D-AR as a valuable tool for improving appreciation of critical anatomic structures and their relationship to lesional pathology. 3D-AR review significantly altered skull positioning for various lesions and craniotomy approaches, particularly among junior residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurosurgical technologies have become increasingly more adaptive, featuring real-time and patient-specific guidance in preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative settings. This review offers insight into how these integrative innovations compare with conventional approaches in spine surgery, focusing on machine learning (ML), artificial intelligence, augmented reality and virtual reality, and spinal navigation systems. Data on technology applications, diagnostic and procedural accuracy, intraoperative times, radiation exposures, postoperative outcomes, and costs were extracted and compared with conventional methods to assess their advantages and limitations. Preoperatively, augmented reality and virtual reality have applications in surgical training and planning that are more immersive, case specific, and risk-free and have been shown to enhance accuracy and reduce complications. ML algorithms have demonstrated high accuracy in predicting surgical candidacy (up to 92.1%) and tailoring personalized treatments based on patient-specific variables. Intraoperatively, advantages include more accurate pedicle screw insertion (96%–99% with ML), enhanced visualization, reduced radiation exposure (49 μSv with O-arm navigation vs. 556 μSv with fluoroscopy), increased efficiency, and potential for fewer intraoperative complications compared with conventional approaches. Postoperatively, certain ML and artificial intelligence models have outperformed conventional methods in predicting all postoperative complications of >6000 patients as well as predicting variables contributing to in-hospital and 90-day mortality. However, applying these technologies comes with limitations, such as longer operative times (up to 35.6% longer) with navigation, dependency on datasets, costs, accessibility, steep learning curve, and inherent software malfunctions. As these technologies advance, continuing to assess their efficacy and limitations will be crucial to their successful integration within spine surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of digital technologies, the use of augmented reality in the tourism sector has received increasing attention. However, the understanding of the factors influencing tourists' post-experience intention with augmented reality devices is incomplete and there is a lack of empirical research. This study explores the impact of AR technical factors, individual factors and situational factors on users' post-experience AR usage intention and destination revisit intention through satisfaction based on a socio-technical perspective. The survey data collected from 254 visitors who visited the Liangzhu Museum using the corresponding AR glasses were analysed, and the results showed that the novelty of the technical aspect, the technology trust of the individual aspect and the aesthetics, education and authenticity of the situational aspect influenced visitors' AR usage intention and destination revisit intention through satisfaction. This study has an impact on future research on the application of augmented reality technology to heritage museums. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of augmented reality (AR) and game-based learning could increase interaction in educational games and provide more learning guidance in higher education courses. This study developed an AR educational board game that featured cognitive scaffolding, immediate feedback, and collaborative interaction. The study also analyzed and compared the competition- and collaboration-oriented mechanisms in the game. Participants of the study were 60 university students, who were divided into a competitive group and a collaborative group. We analyzed learners' psychological and cognitive differences in their learning effectiveness, motivation, flow, technology acceptance, learning anxiety, and gaming anxiety in the game. The results showed that both groups significantly improved in learning, and the competitive group had better learning effectiveness than the collaborative group. As for learning motivation, the competitive group improved in certain sub-dimensions, whereas the collaborative group improved in all sub-dimensions. Moreover, the collaborative group had higher scores in flow antecedent and perceived ease of use than the competitive group. The students had more smooth gaming experiences and perceived more clear feedback. Both groups showed lower gaming anxiety. These findings may have important implications for AR educational board game design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review synthesizes the literature base evaluating the effects of behavior analytic interventions delivered via augmented reality (AR) technology for individuals with autism. We also conducted a quality review. We identified 14 studies with a majority of the studies (n = 11; 79%) utilizing single-case research design. Of the 14 studies, three met the quality criteria to be classified as "strong" and can offer evidence on the integration of AR technology into the practice of behavior analysis. All three studies taught a functional skill (i.e., tooth brushing and navigation). The remaining studies focused on skill acquisition with zero studies utilizing AR within the context of behavior assessment or behavior reduction interventions. This literature base is emerging with additional research required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: We developed an augmented reality technology‐based endotracheal aspiration simulation tool (the AR tool) consisting of three modes: a mode for nursing students to learn endotracheal aspiration by themselves (learning mode); a mode for repeated practice (practice mode); and a mode for confirmation testing (test mode). This study aimed to compare the learning outcomes of the AR tool with traditional training mannequins and identify potential uses and improvements of the AR tool. Methods: We invited students, and faculty members from the three universities who agreed to cooperate in conducting this study. Fifty‐four students and nine faculty members agreed to participate in this study. The students were divided into two groups. One group was to study with the AR tool and the other group was to study with the traditional half‐body training mannequin for suction. The students in both groups were asked to demonstrate endotracheal aspiration on another full‐body type training mannequin which could be used as a patient with a tracheostomy (Skill test). Group interviews with faculty members focused on the topic of the AR tool's potential use in nursing education and improvement needed. Results: There was little significant difference in the skill test results of endotracheal aspiration of students in both groups. The students and faculty members both expressed an interest in the AR tool. They said it was suitable for self‐study of endotracheal aspiration. Conclusions: This AR tool is an effective teaching tool for learning the sequence of endotracheal suctioning, although there are some areas that need improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatial perspective‐taking (SPT) ability positively influences performance in STEM fields. While limited research studies have been done with school students, they have yielded inconclusive findings and, hence, here we report findings from our study with an augmented reality (AR) enhanced learning environment (ARELE), GeoSolvAR, on middle‐school students' SPT ability. We conducted a sequential explanatory mixed‐method study with 90 students to test GeoSolvAR's twin features of augmented systems and inquiry‐based activities. The study had one experimental (n = 30) and two control groups (n = 30 × 2), where students were individually administered an online pre‐ and posttest to measure their SPT ability. The experimental group worked with both the features of GeoSolvAR, while the control group worked with only the AR feature or had no intervention. Our findings reveal that the experimental group showed significant improvement in SPT ability while students in the control groups showed non‐significant improvement or no change. Furthermore, we found that all experimental group students used certain body movements and imagined shifts in spatial positions while solving the activity questions. Thus, we conjecture that GeoSolvAR affords thinking and imagining with the body which makes it a potent tool for improving students' SPT ability. Practitioner notes What is already known about this topic Spatial perspective taking (SPT) belongs to a set of spatial abilities that have been shown to positively influence academic success and career success in STEM fields. Augmented reality systems with their ability to augment 2D images into 3D forms are being explored mostly in college and above levels to improve SPT ability. Limited research investigating the improvement of SPT in school students has used VR digital games or robots. These have either yielded inconclusive findings or not found any improvement in school students' SPT abilities. What this paper adds Conclusive evidence for improving SPT ability in middle‐school students. Empirical evidence for a design to effectively combine augmenting abilities of AR systems with inquiry‐based learning scaffolds to improve the SPT ability of middle‐school students. A conjecture about the mechanism by which middle‐school children's spatial perspective taking improves when scaffolded with an Augmented Reality Enhanced Learning Environment (ARELE) tool. Implications for practice and policy Practitioners such as teachers may directly use GeoSolvAR (the ARELE tool) to help middle‐school students improve their spatial perspective‐taking abilities. Researchers from the fields of both technology‐enhanced learning and science education may use the findings to design improved AR tools and test their impact on students' SPT ability. This work can serve as the basis for further investigating the effect of improved SPT ability on students' performance in STEM subjects. Our work provides support for embodied cognition being used as a strategy for solving SPT tasks. The identification of specific head and hand movements (gestures) can be further probed to understand the exact mechanism of how the ARELE mediates students' performance on the SPT tasks. What is already known about this topic Spatial perspective taking (SPT) belongs to a set of spatial abilities that have been shown to positively influence academic success and career success in STEM fields. Augmented reality systems with their ability to augment 2D images into 3D forms are being explored mostly in college and above levels to improve SPT ability. Limited research investigating the improvement of SPT in school students has used VR digital games or robots. These have either yielded inconclusive findings or not found any improvement in school students' SPT abilities. What this paper adds Conclusive evidence for improving SPT ability in middle‐school students. Empirical evidence for a design to effectively combine augmenting abilities of AR systems with inquiry‐based learning scaffolds to improve the SPT ability of middle‐school students. A conjecture about the mechanism by which middle‐school children's spatial perspective taking improves when scaffolded with an Augmented Reality Enhanced Learning Environment (ARELE) tool. Implications for practice and policy Practitioners such as teachers may directly use GeoSolvAR (the ARELE tool) to help middle‐school students improve their spatial perspective‐taking abilities. Researchers from the fields of both technology‐enhanced learning and science education may use the findings to design improved AR tools and test their impact on students' SPT ability. This work can serve as the basis for further investigating the effect of improved SPT ability on students' performance in STEM subjects. Our work provides support for embodied cognition being used as a strategy for solving SPT tasks. The identification of specific head and hand movements (gestures) can be further probed to understand the exact mechanism of how the ARELE mediates students' performance on the SPT tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of geo-localization broadly refers to the process of determining an entity's geographical location, typically in the form of Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates. The entity of interest may be an image, a sequence of images, a video, a satellite image, or even objects visible within the image. Recently, massive datasets of GPS-tagged media have become available due to smartphones and the internet, and deep learning has risen to prominence and enhanced the performance capabilities of machine learning models. These developments have enabled the rise of image and object geo-localization, which has impacted a wide range of applications such as augmented reality, robotics, self-driving vehicles, road maintenance, and 3D reconstruction. This paper provides a comprehensive survey of visual geo-localization, which may involve either determining the location at which an image has been captured (image geo-localization) or geolocating objects within an image (object geo-localization). We will provide an in-depth study of visual geo-localization including a summary of popular algorithms, a description of proposed datasets, and an analysis of performance results to illustrate the current state of the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Road maintenance operators often work in dangerous environments and are in need of a support system to enhance their safety and efficiency. Augmented reality (AR) has proven to be useful in providing support to operators in various industrial sectors. However, the vast majority of the existing applications focus mainly on static, controlled environments, such as industrial shopfloors, although the dynamic flow of information that AR can provide could be very valuable to unstructured, dynamic environments. This paper presents a novel AR—based methodology for human–robot collaboration, real‐time instructions, and support for road maintenance operations, aiming to enhance operator safety and efficiency. A robot operating system‐based architecture is exploited for the communication of the modules. The methodology is tested in a laboratory environment, and the results validate the hypothesized enhancement of road operators. In the future, the application will be validated on real interventions in highways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]