Virtual Object Position Manipulation Using ARToolKit

Abstract

In this paper the outcome of a project is presented that aims to modify and improve one of the most widely used Augmented Reality tools. Augmented reality (AR), is a fast growing area of virtual reality research.

Augmented Reality (AR) is a newly emerging technology by which user’s view of the real world is augmented with additional information from a computer model. ARToolKit is one of the most widely used toolkits for Augmented Reality applications. The toolkit tracks optical markers and overlays virtual objects on the markers. In the current version of the toolkit the overlaid object is stationary or loops regardless of the optical target position, this means that the overlaid object cannot be animated or changed based on the movement of the optical target.

The aim is to improve the toolkit, therefore a design solution to modify it were designed and implement so that users can manipulate the position of the overlaid virtual object, through movements of the optical target. The design solution focuses on developing a mathematically based links between the position of the optical target and the overlaid virtual object.

To test the solution test cases were developed and the results show that the design solution is effective and the principal idea can be used to develop many applications in different sectors such as education and health.