We present an augmented reality system that supports human workers in a rapidly changing production environment. By providing spatially registered information on the task directly in the user's field of view the system can guide the user through unfamiliar tasks (e.g. assembly of new products) and visualize information directly in the spatial context were it is relevant. In the first version we present the user with picking and assembly instructions in an assembly application. In this paper we present the initial experience with this system, which has already been used successfully by several hundred users who had no previous experience in the assembly task.

Mixed reality techniques have high potential to support the development of complex systems that operate in a real world environment, especially mechatronic systems. In our paper we present the Mixed Reality in the Loop design process that enables a seamless progression from an initial virtual prototype to the final system along the mixed reality continuum.

Mixed reality - the close coupling of real world objects with computer generated information and functionality - has high potential for the creation of usable user interfaces. The implementation of practical applications that exploit these benefits requires an exploratory design approach to handle the interaction of application content with newly developed interaction techniques and complex hardware. In this paper we describe how agile methods from software engineering can be integrated with usability engineering and mixed reality development techniques to enable effective design space exploration. The approach was employed in the development of the Augmented Paper Map (APM) project in which conventional paper maps are enhanced with mixed reality functionality. Experiences with the method and future enhancements and modifications of the approach are discussed.

This paper applies the idea of a continuously testable design representation to authoring of augmented realities for mobile devices.

A usability-centred design approach is critically important for content development of virtual environments in real-world applications. We provide a framework that allows one to review existing design techniques and tools against the special requirements of virtual environments, so that appropriate methods can be selected. Focusing on the specific usability requirement of interaction guidance in presentation and instructional environments and its implementation through interactive illustration techniques, we demonstrate the use of the framework. Based on the specific requirements, we derive a suitable design process for interactive illustration techniques and identify appropriate techniques from multimedia and GUI design. The use of the design process and techniques is then illustrated with an example.

We describe a framework that allows to easily design and implement virtual and augmented reality worlds. Based on a structured design approach for interactive animated 3D conten we want to supply designers and content experts of complex virtual environments with a component based to olset for the structured design of the visual and abstract components of 3D applications.

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