Architectural issues in mobile augmented reality systems: a prototyping case study

Augmented Reality (AR), mobile computing, and ubiquitous computing have each individually provided technology enablers for new types of applications. Researchers have demonstrated over the years spectacular toy systems that fire researchers´ imaginations. However, cross-fertilization between these areas has only just begun. Combining these technology enablers into robust information systems that can be used in the field present many software engineering challenges that have not been taken into account by the toy systems mentioned above. In this paper, we report our efforts at TU Munich to analyze information generation, retrieval, transmission, and visualization in the context of maintenance procedures in nuclear powerplants. The use of AR to present such information online has significant implications on the overall system architecture. This paper focuses on pointing out open questions, discussing options for addressing them, and evaluating them in prototypical implementations.