Appraisal of Augmented Reality Technologies for Supporting Industrial Design Practices

Abstract

, 150 pages Augmented reality (AR) is a technology that enables the integration of computer generated data into real objects and environments. With the rapid advancements in technology, uses of AR have also become widespread. Nowadays, digitally created data including videos, images, sound, 3D models and text can be viewed superimposed on the real objects/environment through devices such as personal computers, tablets, smartphones, head mounted displays, and projection. AR also offers potential uses for industrial designers, especially for design students. Some design stages, during which traditional tools and methods are used by designers, may not fully convey the total experience that a designed product offers, like audiovisual feedback and digital interfaces. AR can help by providing a digital layer in which designers can present information and make their presentation more interactive. Therefore, the present research aims to offer directions for industrial designers to use AR technology in design activities to enrich their workflow. A fieldwork with three progressive studies was conducted i) to create awareness of AR to imagine uses for AR in the design process; ii) to explore the potential of mobile AR apps in a design project in an educational setting; iii) and to offer solutions for the future uses of the technology by industrial designers. The fieldwork is undertaken in an educational setting to evade limitations of professional design setting such as time constrains, budget and marketing. The results show that AR can be utilized mainly in presentation and v prototyping stages of design process and with further development in the technology, AR might be useful for several other design activities such as scenario building, user tests, project research, material and mechanical considerations, product surface creation, and so on.

Applications of augmented reality technology in design process

“…Research on the use of AR in industrial design activities focuses on product visualization, use of simulation and ergonomic analysis, virtual design environments, hybrid/augmented prototyping, assembly in industrial design, and collaboration across design disciplines. (2) Why it can be applied AR is considered a real-virtual link technology, so its applicability in different design sectors guarantees better results in terms of time, cost, and efficiency, as well as educational applicability.…”

“…(14) In augmented prototyping, AR has been found to be a valuable tool for bridging the gap between low-quality mock-ups that need more details. In this regard, Verlinden et al (2) have coined the term AR prototyping to describe the process of enhancing physical prototypes with virtual details. It is worth mentioning that one of the limitations due to the characteristics of the physical layout is the time required for its realization, which makes the process an obstacle to the promptness of the design.…”

“…However, the tools and methods traditionally used by industrial designers are only sometimes sufficient to convey the full spectrum of user interaction offered through the design of a new product. (2) The designer's interaction with the three-dimensional (3D) model is generally restricted to two-dimensional (2D) interfaces such as the mouse and monitor. (3) As technology advances, contemporary visualization techniques offer new capabilities to project sketched products more realistically than the use of PC monitors.…”

“…(4) Augmented Reality (AR) is a visualization tool that combines digitally created data with the real environment. (2) It is defined as a direct or indirect view of a physically real environment, parts of which are enriched with additional digital information relevant to the object being viewed, mainly in textual or pictorial form. (5) It has been in development since the 1960s; however, recent developments have made the technology accessible and in demand in commercial and research fields.…”

“…(5) It has been in development since the 1960s; however, recent developments have made the technology accessible and in demand in commercial and research fields. (2) Current three-dimensional effect maps cannot fully express the designer's intentions; instead, virtual representation with AR can take the digital three-dimensional model as the core of the design idea, display the work perfectly in the form of a multidimensional model, zoom and rotate the product through the software, and deepen the relevant personnel's understanding of the product design. (6) The AR environment within industrial design has three main characteristics: intuitive observation, informative visualization, and immersive interaction.…”