A mobile application system for sightseeing guidance using augmented reality

Recently, the development of the communications networks for mobile phones has led to the services to provide sightseeing information via mobile phone at tourist sites. However, existing tourist information guide contents such as web and guide books provide information in one direction especially in non-activated sightseeing. In this study, an attempt is made to develop a mobile application system for sightseeing guidance to solve these problems. With this application system, users can post sightseeing information and share it by using mobile phones. This will enable them to improve the sightseeing information. Furthermore, the proposed application system uses augmented reality. Augmented reality is a technology which enhances a real environment with virtual objects. Therefore, at the sight spot, the application system can be used as a sightseeing guidance system that superimposes annotations on a real world. Especially, the proposed application system presents virtual tour guides and route so as to be able to assist their tour. In this study, an experiment in Takatsuki city is presented to demonstrate the validity of the proposed application.