Augmented Reality: Survey
Source abstract
Abstract
An Augmented Reality (AR) system is a technology that overlays digital information, such as images, sounds, or text, onto a user’s view of the real world, providing an enriched and interactive experience of the surrounding environment. It has evolved into a potent instrument for improving human perception and decision-making across various domains, including industrial, automotive, healthcare, and urban planning. This systematic literature review aims to offer a comprehensive understanding of AR technology, its limitations, and implementation challenges in the most significant areas of application in engineering and beyond. The review will explore the state-of-the-art AR techniques, their potential use cases, and the barriers to widespread adoption, while also identifying future research directions and opportunities for innovation in the rapidly evolving field of augmented reality. This study works as a compilation of the existing technologies in the subject, especially useful for beginners in AR or as a starting point for developers who seek to innovate or implement new technologies, thus knowing the limitations and current challenges that could arise.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Augmented Reality Applications · Virtual Reality Applications and Impacts · Interactive and Immersive Displays
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
School of Engineering and Sciences, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Av. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501 Sur, Monterrey 64700, NL, Mexico
References (96)
Show source-provided references
1. A Metaverse: Taxonomy, Components, Applications, and Open Challenges10.1109/ACCESS.2021.3140175 ↗
2. Enhancing our lives with immersive virtual reality
3. A survey of augmented reality
4. A taxonomy of mixed reality visual displays
5. Vigkos, A., Pauer, A., Bevacqua, D., Turturro, L., and Kulesza, M. (2023, July 18). XR and Its Potential for Europe. Ecorys. Available online: https://xreuropepotential.com/assets/pdf/ecorys-xr-2021-report.pdf.
6. Higgins, J.P.T., Thomas, J., Chandler, J., Cumpston, M., Li, T., Page, M.J., and Welch, V.A. (2021). Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions, John Wiley Sons.
7. European Commission (2014). Technology Readiness Levels (TRL), Extract from Part 19–Commission Decision C (2014) 4995; European Commission.
8. Augmented reality types and popular use cases
9. Poghosyan, S. (2019). Learning-Oriented Augmented Reality Technology, National Polytechnic University of Armenia. Available online: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/An-example-of-Projection-based-AR-in-Geography-Class_fig3_331181344.10.29013/ESR-19-11.12.1-42-46 ↗
10. Exploratory Application of Augmented Reality/Mixed Reality Devices for Acute Care Procedure Training
11. How (repeat) museum displays are always experimental: (Re-)making MUM and the city-laboratory10.1080/13527258.2018.1544921 ↗
12. Discernible impact of augmented reality on retail customer’s experience, satisfaction and willingness to buy10.1016/j.jretconser.2016.10.005 ↗
13. Natural feature tracking for augmented reality10.1109/6046.748171 ↗
14. The virtual mirror: A new interaction paradigm for augmented reality environments10.1109/TMI.2009.2018622 ↗
15. Augmented reality learning experiences: Survey of prototype design and evaluation10.1109/TLT.2013.37 ↗
16. A conceptual framework for integrating building information modelling and augmented reality10.1016/j.autcon.2012.10.012 ↗
17. Damala, A., Marchal, I., and Houlier, P. (2007, January 1–6). Merging augmented reality based features in mobile multimedia museum guides. Proceedings of the Anticipating the Future of the Cultural Past, Athens, Greece.
18. Bruno, F., Ricca, M., Lagudi, A., Kalamara, P., Manglis, A., Fourkiotou, A., Papadopoulou, D., and Veneti, A. (2020). Digital technologies for the sustainable development of the accessible underwater cultural heritage sites. J. Mar. Sci. Eng., 8.10.3390/jmse8110955 ↗
19. Is Augmented Reality Technology an Effective Tool for E-commerce? An Interactivity and Vividness Perspective10.1016/j.intmar.2017.04.001 ↗
20. Tang, A., Owen, C., Biocca, F., and Mou, W. (2003, January 5–10). Comparative effectiveness of augmented reality in object assembly. Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA.10.1145/642611.642626 ↗
21. Exploring the benefits of augmented reality documentation for maintenance and repair10.1109/TVCG.2010.245 ↗
22. An adoption framework for mobile augmented reality games: The case of Pokémon Go10.1016/j.chb.2017.07.030 ↗
23. Klein, G., and Murray, D. (2007, January 13–16). Parallel tracking and mapping for small AR workspaces. Proceedings of the 2007 6th IEEE and ACM International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality, Nara, Japan.10.1109/ISMAR.2007.4538852 ↗
24. Ufkes, A., and Fiala, M. (2013, January 28–31). A markerless augmented reality system for mobile devices. Proceedings of the 2013 International Conference on Computer and Robot Vision, CRV, Regina, SK, Canada.10.1109/CRV.2013.51 ↗
25. Augmented reality for aircraft maintenance training and operations support10.1109/MCG.2011.4 ↗
26. Merging fossil specimens with computer-generated information10.1109/MC.2002.1033024 ↗
27. Wuest, H., Vial, F., and Stricker, D. (2005, January 5–8). Adaptive Line Tracking with Multiple Hypotheses for Augmented Reality. Proceedings of the Fourth IEEE and ACM International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality (ISMAR’05), Vienna, Austria.10.1109/ISMAR.2005.8 ↗
28. Interactive 3D digital models for anatomy and medical education10.1007/978-3-030-14227-8_1 ↗
29. Annotation in outdoor augmented reality10.1016/j.cag.2009.06.001 ↗
30. Digital twin in the IoT context: A survey on technical features, scenarios, and architectural models10.1109/JPROC.2020.2998530 ↗
31. Mobile Augmented Reality Survey: From Where We Are to Where We Go10.1109/ACCESS.2017.2698164 ↗
32. Kato, H., and Billinghurst, M. (1999, January 20–21). Marker tracking and hmd calibration for a video-based augmented reality conferencing system. Proceedings of the 2nd IEEE and ACM International Workshop on Augmented Reality (IWAR ’99), San Francisco, CA, USA.
33. Head pose estimation and augmented reality tracking: An integrated system and evaluation for monitoring driver awareness10.1109/TITS.2010.2044241 ↗
34. Automatic generation and detection of highly reliable fiducial markers under occlusion10.1016/j.patcog.2014.01.005 ↗
35. Augmented reality technologies, systems and applications10.1007/s11042-010-0660-6 ↗
36. Raskar, R., Welch, G., Cutts, M., Lake, A., Stesin, L., and Fuchs, H. (1998, January 19–24). The office of the future: A unified approach to image-based modeling and spatially immersive displays. Proceedings of the 25th Annual Conference on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques, Orlando, FL, USA.10.1145/280814.280861 ↗
37. Jones, B., Sodhi, R., Murdock, M., Mehra, R., Benko, H., Wilson, A.D., Ofek, E., MacIntyre, B., Raghuvanshi, N., and Shapira, L. (2014, January 5–8). RoomAlive: Magical experiences enabled by scalable, adaptive projector-camera units. Proceedings of the 27th Annual ACM Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology, Honolulu, HI, USA.10.1145/2642918.2647383 ↗
38. Towards pervasive augmented reality: Context-awareness in augmented reality10.1109/TVCG.2016.2543720 ↗
39. Comprehensible visualization for augmented reality10.1109/TVCG.2008.96 ↗
40. Yu, Y., Jeon, H., and Koo, B. (2020). Enhancing the stability and placement accuracy of BIM model projections for augmented reality-based site management of infrastructure projects. Appl. Sci., 12.10.3390/app122110798 ↗
41. The state of the art of visualization in mixed reality image guided surgery10.1016/j.compmedimag.2013.01.009 ↗
42. Augmented reality browsers: Essential products or only gadgets?10.1145/2527190 ↗
43. Unveiling the technological trends of augmented reality10.1016/j.compind.2020.103221 ↗
44. Baier, D., Rese, A., and Schreiber, S. (2015). Successful Technological Integration for Competitive Advantage in Retail Settings, IGI Global.
45. Augmented reality-based navigation increases precision of pedicle screw insertion10.1186/s13018-020-01690-x ↗
46. Sudarshan, S.K. (2018). Augmented Reality in Mobile Devices. [Master’s Thesis, San José State University]. Available online: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Mobile-application-display-AR-Source-1_fig1_320704050.
47. Horejsi, P., Polcar, J., and Rohlíková, L. (2016). Digital Factory and Virtual Reality: Teaching Virtual Reality Principles with Game Engines, InTech. Available online: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Augmented-reality-projection-table-Touchscreen-with-black-and-white-markers-is-shot-by_fig1_311758375.10.5772/65218 ↗
48. Defining requirements for an augmented reality system to overcome the challenges of creating and using design representations in co-design sessions
49. Sun, Y., Wu, S., and Spence, I. (2015). The commingled division of visual attention. PLoS ONE, 10.10.1371/journal.pone.0130611 ↗
50. A single-pixel wireless contact lens display10.1088/0960-1317/21/12/125014 ↗
51. Mixed reality with hololens: Where virtual reality meets augmented reality in the operating room10.1097/PRS.0000000000003802 ↗
52. An acceptance model for smart glasses: Implications for the adoption of future wearable technology10.1108/IntR-05-2014-0126 ↗
53. Definition, framework and research issues of smart learning environments—A context-aware ubiquitous learning perspective10.1186/s40561-014-0004-5 ↗
54. Painting alive: Handheld augmented reality system for large targets10.1007/978-3-642-39405-8_4 ↗
55. Saulnier, E.T., and McLaren, E. (2012, January 7–9). The Hidden: The potential and pitfalls of augmented reality on the Nintendo DSi and 3DS. Proceedings of the 4th International IEEE Consumer Electronic Society—Games Innovation Conference, IGiC, Rochester, NY, USA.10.1109/IGIC.2012.6329844 ↗
56. Wilson, A.D., and Benko, H. (2010, January 3–6). Combining multiple depth cameras and projectors for interactions on, above, and between surfaces. Proceedings of the UIST 2010—23rd ACM Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology, New York, NY, USA.10.1145/1866029.1866073 ↗
57. Bimber, O., and Raskar, R. (2005). Spatial Augmented Reality: Merging Real and Virtual Worlds, CRC Press.10.1201/b10624 ↗
58. A review of head-mounted displays (HMD) technologies and applications for consumer electronics
59. Augmented reality contact lenses—So near yet so far10.1080/08164622.2023.2188176 ↗
60. Wiemer, M., and Winoto, R. (2021, January 22–24). Mojo Lens—AR contact lenses for real people. Proceedings of the 2021 IEEE Hot Chips 33 Symposium, HCS, Palo Alto, CA, USA.10.1109/HCS52781.2021.9567321 ↗
61. Recent advances in augmented reality10.1109/38.963459 ↗
62. Augmented reality: A class of displays on the reality-virtuality continuum
63. Augmented reality smart glasses: An investigation of technology acceptance drivers10.1504/IJTMKT.2016.075690 ↗
64. Rovira, A., Fatah gen Schieck, A., Blume, P., and Julier, S. (2020). Guidance and surroundings awareness in outdoor handheld augmented reality. PLoS ONE, 15.10.1371/journal.pone.0230518 ↗
65. Embedded Entertainment with Smart Projectors10.1109/MC.2005.17 ↗
66. Marner, M.R., Thomas, B.H., and Sandor, C. (2009, January 19–22). Physical-Virtual Tools for Spatial Augmented Reality User Interfaces. Proceedings of the 2009 8th IEEE International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality, Orlando, FL, USA.10.1109/ISMAR.2009.5336458 ↗
67. In-vehicle AR-HUD system to provide driving-safety information10.4218/etrij.13.2013.0041 ↗
68. Augmented reality in education: A meta-review and cross-media analysis10.1007/s00779-013-0747-y ↗
69. Advantages and challenges associated with augmented reality for education: A systematic review of the literature10.1016/j.edurev.2016.11.002 ↗
70. Virtual laboratories for education in science, technology, and engineering: A review10.1016/j.compedu.2016.02.002 ↗
71. A systematic literature review towards the research of game-based learning with augmented reality10.46328/ijtes.176 ↗
72. Huamanchahua, D., Diaz-Beltran, G., Trinidad-Palacios, A.G., and Pajuelo-Ventocilla, C.M. (2022, January 26–29). Implementation of an Augmented Reality Application to Improve Learning in Elementary School Children through Playful Games. Proceedings of the 2022 IEEE 13th Annual Ubiquitous Computing, Electronics and Mobile Communication Conference, New York, NY, USA.10.1109/UEMCON54665.2022.9965646 ↗
73. Dinc, F., De, A., Goins, A., Halic, T., Massey, M., and Yarberry, F. (2021, January 4–6). ARChem: Augmented Reality Based Chemistry LAB Simulation for Teaching and Assessment. Proceedings of the 2021 19th International Conference on Information Technology Based Higher Education and Training, ITHET, Sydney, Australia.10.1109/ITHET50392.2021.9759587 ↗
74. Navigating learning worlds: Using digital tools to learn in physical and virtual spaces10.14742/ajet.3675 ↗
75. Systematic review on the effectiveness of augmented reality applications in medical training10.1007/s00464-016-4800-6 ↗
76. Augmented reality in healthcare education: An integrative review10.7717/peerj.469 ↗
77. Richard, E., Billaudeau, V., Richard, P., and Gaudin, G. (2007, January 27–29). Augmented reality for rehabilitation of cognitive disabled children: A preliminary study. Proceedings of the 2007 Virtual Rehabilitation, IWVR, Venice, Italy.10.1109/ICVR.2007.4362148 ↗
78. Infrared augmented reality device versus standard procedure for peripheral venous catheterisation in children less than 3 years old: A quasi-experimental cluster randomised controlled trial10.1111/jocn.16017 ↗
79. Watts, I., Boulanger, P., and Kawchuk, G. (2017, January 8). ProjectDR: Augmented Reality system for displaying medical images directly onto a patient. Proceedings of the ACM Symposium on Virtual Reality Software and Technology, VRST, Gothenburg, Sweden.10.1145/3139131.3141198 ↗
80. A new supplement to gross anatomy dissection: HoloAnatomy10.1111/medu.13845 ↗
81. Augmented Reality in built environment: Classification and implications for future research10.1016/j.autcon.2012.11.021 ↗
82. Paelke, V. (2014, January 16–19). Augmented reality in the smart factory: Supporting workers in an industry 4.0 environment. Proceedings of the 19th IEEE International Conference on Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation, ETFA 2014, Barcelona, Spain.10.1109/ETFA.2014.7005252 ↗
83. Augmented reality applications in design and manufacturing10.1016/j.cirp.2012.05.010 ↗
84. Zhang, Y., Nowak, A., Romanowski, A., and Fjeld, M. (2021). Adjunct Proceedings of the 2021 ACM International Joint Conference on Pervasive and Ubiquitous Computing and Proceedings of the 2021 ACM International Symposium on Wearable Computers, Virtual, 21–26 September 2021, Association for Computing Machinery.
85. The application of virtual reality technology in transmission live working training
86. Augmented Reality in Logistics: A Case Study of DHL
87. Augmented Reality in Manufacturing: A Case Study on Siemens
88. Allen, M., Regenbrecht, H., and Abbott, M. (December, January 28). Smart-phone augmented reality for public participation in urban planning. Proceedings of the 23rd Australian Computer-Human Interaction Conference, OzCHI, Canberra, Australia.
89. Ishii, H., Underkoffler, J., Chak, D., Piper, B., Ben-Joseph, E., Yeung, L., and Kanji, Z. (2002, January 1). Augmented urban planning workbench: Overlaying drawings, physical models and digital simulation. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality, ISMAR 2002, Darmstadt, Germany.
90. 3D outdoor augmented reality for architecture and urban planning10.1016/j.procs.2013.11.009 ↗
91. Suzuki, L.R., Brown, K., Pipes, S., and Ibbotson, J. (2014, January 24–28). Smart building management through augmented reality. Proceedings of the 2014 IEEE International Conference on Pervasive Computing and Communication Workshops, Percom Workshops, Budapest, Hungary.10.1109/PerComW.2014.6815174 ↗
92. Iaconesi, S., and Persico, O. (2012, January 11–13). VersuS, the digital lives of cities transforms into usable interconnective intelligence. Proceedings of the 2012 16th International Conference on Information Visualisation, Montpellier, France.10.1109/IV.2012.101 ↗
93. Thomas, B., Close, B., Donoghue, J., Squires, J., De Bondi, P., Morris, M., and Piekarski, W. (2000, January 16–17). ARQuake: An outdoor/indoor augmented reality first person application. Proceedings of the 4th International Symposium on Wearable Computers, Atlanta, GA, USA.
94. Augmenting your own reality: Student authoring of science-based augmented reality games10.1002/yd.378 ↗
95. Ambika, N., and Alam, M. (2023). Augmented and Virtual Reality in Industry 5.0, De Gruyter.
96. Vision enhancement technologies, augmented reality and sports integrity considerations10.1136/bmjsem-2023-001651 ↗