Agent Augmented Reality: A Software Agent Meets the Real World

Agent augmented reality is proposed in this paper as a new research area that uses agent technologies for the augmentation of our real world environment by actively integra.til,g information worlds. ~e introduce a special agent called a real world agent. A real world agm,r is a software agent that cau support its user in performing tasks in real world environments, such aa placeto-place ]oeation guidance, instruction in physica.I ta.~ks, and augmentation of human knowledge related to the physical environment. In order for the agent to achieve those tasks, the agent should be aware of the liser’s real worht situation. The detection of real workl sitlmtions is performed through the integration of carl. ous methocls, including Ioc&tion-&w’areness rising a global positioning system, object recogt,itlon t|,rough maci~ine-recogr,izable ID.(barcodes. inflared r~ys, ere.J, anti the processit,g of visual/spoken inputs. II)s of static objects (e.g., doors, ceilings, walls, etc.) cmti also give clues to the Iocatiou-awarene.’,s system. When it real world agent correc|ly deduces the real worht sit uatlon and the intevtions of its user, Jl can at’tess information worlds {e.g., the Internet) in the .’4&ale manner as other software agents.