Visual Issues on Augmented Reality Using Smart Glasses with 3D Stereoscopic Images

Recently, binocular see-through smart glasses have become available. These glasses stereoscopically overlay a virtual image on a real world image and are used as a form of augmented reality (AR). We aimed to quantitatively estimate the efficiency of information seeking when using these smart glasses. We employed Route Tracking Test (RTT). With the help of 143 volunteers participating, we evaluated the ease and accuracy of an information seeking task. We also measured the lens accommodation while the user was viewing the virtual guide through the smart glasses. A comparison was made between using and not using the smart glasses. Also, we measured their accommodation when they watched 2 targets of real and virtual images. We found that the smart glasses significantly increased the ease and accuracy of the task. We propose the following guideline for good visual recognition with binocular see-through 3D smart glasses. 1. In AR work guidance, these glasses stereoscopically overlay a virtual image so that the workers can see the operating field and the guidance simultaneously. 2. The inter-pupillary distance (IPD) of the smart glasses should be suitable for most users and controllable. 3. The luminance of the virtual guidance images and real operating fields should be similar. 4. The speed of computer image processing should be fast enough.