Location-Based Mobile Applications and Outdoor Exploration with Augmented Reality

Abstract

As the multi-function devices that we know as smartphones have spread and replaced the voice communication-oriented mobile phones various hardware features are conceptualized and implemented. But the main feature of smartphones, without a doubt, are the applications. Regardless of the device, the user has access to an application store where they are able to download and install a multitude of programs ranging from games to more or less complex utilities. The ability to be this close and present to the users and their routines has uncovered the true potential of the mobile software market. Narrowing the scope on the multitude of technological advances, we discover a growing but nevertheless equally promising field: Augmented Reality (AR for short). Although this technology has been present as early as the mid 20th Century, the standard of including a video camera on these smartphones and the relatively powerful hardware capabilities as opposed to the then standard mobile phones, has suddenly removed the entry barriers for this technology. Most common examples of such applications are simple computer vision applications (like the Instagram app image filters) as well as AR-focused companion apps for physical items such as books and toys that provide a marker that is recognized by the associated application and display a digital object or a pop-up with additional information. Another not-so-new technology finding a new life on this platform is the Global Positioning System (GPS) which allows the applications to provide location-based features. As this is a growing trend in mobile development, most of the studies in this area are of technical nature, focusing on techniques to facilitate and/or optimize the implementation of this technology on the (still) relatively limited mobile hardware. Although this study proposes to accompany the conceptualization and development of a mobile app with these technologies, it is intended to do so while maintaining special focus on the user experience, most specifically, in how the use of these technologies is impacting the ability to transmit the intended information to the user.