Augmented Reality in Ophthalmology: Applications and Challenges

Frontiers in Medicine ◽

10.3389/fmed.2021.733241 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Tongkeng Li ◽

Chenghao Li ◽

Xiayin Zhang ◽

Wenting Liang ◽

Yongxin Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Augmented Reality ◽

Cultural Heritage ◽

Vision Systems ◽

The Future ◽

Therapy Education

Augmented reality (AR) has been developed rapidly and implemented in many fields such as medicine, maintenance, and cultural heritage. Unlike other specialties, ophthalmology connects closely with AR since most AR systems are based on vision systems. Here we summarize the applications and challenges of AR in ophthalmology and provide insights for further research. Firstly, we illustrate the structure of the standard AR system and present essential hardware. Secondly, we systematically introduce applications of AR in ophthalmology, including therapy, education, and clinical assistance. To conclude, there is still a large room for development, which needs researchers to pay more effort. Applications in diagnosis and protection might be worth exploring. Although the obstacles of hardware restrict the development of AR in ophthalmology at present, the AR will realize its potential and play an important role in ophthalmology in the future with the rapidly developing technology and more in-depth research.

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Site Experience Enhancement and Perspective in Cultural Heritage Fruition—A Survey on New Technologies and Methodologies Based on a “Four-Pillars” Approach

Future Internet ◽

10.3390/fi13040092 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 92

Author(s):

Agnese Augello ◽

Ignazio Infantino ◽

Giovanni Pilato ◽

Gianpaolo Vitale

Keyword(s):

Cultural Heritage ◽

New Technologies ◽

Multimodal Interaction ◽

Heritage Sites ◽

The Future ◽

Cultural Interest ◽

And Behavior

This paper deals with innovative fruition modalities of cultural heritage sites. Based on two ongoing experiments, four pillars are considered, that is, User Localization, Multimodal Interaction, User Understanding and Gamification. A survey of the existing literature regarding one or more issues related to the four pillars is proposed. It aims to put in evidence the exploitation of these contributions to cultural heritage. It is discussed how a cultural site can be enriched, extended and transformed into an intelligent multimodal environment in this perspective. This new augmented environment can focus on the visitor, analyze his activity and behavior, and make his experience more satisfying, fulfilling and unique. After an in-depth overview of the existing technologies and methodologies for the fruition of cultural interest sites, the two experiments are described in detail and the authors’ vision of the future is proposed.

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Volumetric Video in Augmented Reality Applications for Museological Narratives

Journal on Computing and Cultural Heritage ◽

10.1145/3425400 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (2) ◽

pp. 1-20

Author(s):

Néill O’dwyer ◽

Emin Zerman ◽

Gareth W. Young ◽

Aljosa Smolic ◽

Siobhán Dunne ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Augmented Reality ◽

Cultural Heritage ◽

Applied Research ◽

Ease Of Use ◽

Museum Visitors ◽

The Public ◽

Research Article ◽

Nature Of Information ◽

Live Action ◽

Capture Technique

Cross-reality technologies are quickly establishing themselves as commonplace platforms for presenting objects of historical, scientific, artistic, and cultural interest to the public. In this space, augmented reality (AR) is notably successful in delivering cultural heritage applications, including architectural and environmental heritage reconstruction, exhibition data management and representation, storytelling, and exhibition curation. Generally, it has been observed that the nature of information delivery in applications created for narrating exhibitions tends to be informative and formal. Here we report on the assessment of a pilot scene for a prototype AR application that attempts to break this mold by employing a humorous and playful mode of communication. This bespoke AR experience harnessed the cutting-edge live-action capture technique of volumetric video to create a digital tour guide that playfully embellished the museological experience of the museum visitors. This applied research article consists of measuring, presenting, and discussing the appeal, interest, and ease of use of this ludic AR storytelling strategy mediated via AR technology in a cultural heritage context.

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Revealing Hidden Local Cultural Heritage through a Serious Escape Game in Outdoor Settings

Information ◽

10.3390/info12010010 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 10

Author(s):

Stavroula Tzima ◽

Georgios Styliaras ◽

Athanasios Bassounas

Keyword(s):

Virtual Reality ◽

Augmented Reality ◽

Cultural Heritage ◽

Physical Environment ◽

Local History ◽

Educational Context ◽

Virtual Reality Technology ◽

The Real ◽

Hybrid Type ◽

Game Mechanics

Escape Rooms are presently considered a very popular social entertainment activity, with increasing popularity in education field, since they are considered capable of stimulating the interest of players/students and enhancing learning. The combined game mechanics have led to blended forms of Escape Rooms, the Serious Escape Games (SEGs) and the hybrid type of Escape Rooms that uses Augmented Reality (AR)/Virtual Reality technology, a type that is expected to be widely used in the future. In the current study, the MillSecret is presented, a multi-player Serious Escape Game about local cultural heritage, where the players must solve a riddle about the cultural asset of watermills. MillSecret uses AR technology and it was designed to be conducted in the real-physical environment and in an informal educational context. The paper describes the game, its implementation, the playing process, and its evaluation, which aimed to study the feasibility of game conduction in outdoor settings and the views and experience of players with the game, the local cultural heritage and local history. Evaluation results reveal, among other findings, a very positive first feedback from players that allows us to further evolve the development of the game.

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Augmented Reality Gaming as a Tool for Subjectivizing Visitor Experience at Cultural Heritage Locations—Case Lights On!

Journal on Computing and Cultural Heritage ◽

10.1145/3415142 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 1-16

Author(s):

Anttoni Lehto ◽

Nina Luostarinen ◽

Paula Kostia

Keyword(s):

Augmented Reality ◽

Cultural Heritage ◽

Visitor Experience

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The Awareness of and Input into Cultural Heritage Preservation by Urban Planners and Other Municipal Actors in Light of Climate Change

Atmosphere ◽

10.3390/atmos12060726 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (6) ◽

pp. 726

Author(s):

Paul Carroll ◽

Eeva Aarrevaara

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Cultural Heritage ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Climate Change Impacts ◽

Town Planning ◽

Urban Setting ◽

Heritage Preservation ◽

Climate Conditions ◽

The Future ◽

Cultural Heritage Preservation

Future climate conditions need to be considered in planning for urban areas. As well as considering how new structures would best endure in the future, it is important to take into account factors that contribute to the degradation of cultural heritage buildings in the urban setting. Climate change can cause an increase in structural degradation. In this paper, a review of both what these factors are and how they are addressed by urban planners is presented. A series of inquiries into the topic was carried out on town planning personnel and those involved in cultural heritage preservation in several towns and cities in Finland and in a small number of other European countries. The target group members were asked about observed climate change impacts on cultural heritage, about present steps being taken to protect urban cultural heritage, and also their views were obtained on how climate change impacts will be emphasised in the future in this regard. The results of the inquiry demonstrate that climate change is still considered only in a limited way in urban planning, and more interaction between different bodies, both planning and heritage authorities, as well as current research on climate change impacts, is needed in the field.

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