Collaborative Mixed Reality [chapter]

Mark Billinghurst, Hirokazu Kato
1999 Mixed Reality  
Virtual Reality (VR) appears a natural medium for computer supported collaborative work (CSCW). However immersive Virtual Reality separates the user from the real world and their traditional tools. An alternative approach is through Mixed Reality (MR), the overlaying of virtual objects on the real world. This allows users to see each other and the real world at the same time as the virtual images, facilitating a high bandwidth of communication between users and intuitive manipulation of the
more » ... ual information. We review MR techniques for developing CSCW interfaces and describe lessons learned from developing a variety of collaborative Mixed Reality interfaces. Our recent work involves the use of computer vision techniques for accurate MR registration. We describe this and identify areas for future research. Hollan and Stornetta suggest this is the wrong approach. Considering face-to-face interaction as a specific type of communications medium, it becomes apparent that this approach requires one medium to adapt to another, pitting the strengths of face-to-face collaboration against other interfaces. Mechanisms that are effective in face-to-face interactions may be awkward if they are replicated in an electronic medium, often making users reluctant to use the new medium. In fact, because of the nature of the medium, it may be impossible for mediated collaborations to provide the same experience as face-to-face collaboration [11] . Hollan and Stornetta argue that a better way to develop interfaces for telecommunication is to focus on the communication aspect, not the tele-part. Rather than using new media to imitate face-to-face collaboration, researchers should be considering what new attributes the media can offer that satisfy the needs of communication so well that people will use it regardless of physical proximity. So one way to develop effective collaborative interfaces is to identify unmet needs in face-to-face conversation and create interface attributes that address these needs.
doi:10.1007/978-3-642-87512-0_15 fatcat:hkberkkehfcojficyayt3kaazi