Augmented Reality for First Response Scenarios: Navigational and Reference Device Based on ComputerVision Techniques

Making life-critical decisions based on limitedinformation about an environment is a fact of lifefor first response professionals (firefighters,HAZMAT teams, antiterrorist or rescue teams, lawenforcement officers) and military personnel. Theconfluence of computing technologies and newuser interface paradigms holds the key toincreasing situational awareness and cognitivelyassisting responders. This monographdetails the design and implementation of a prototypeindoor Augmented Reality device based on commercialoff-the-shelf components, developed by theauthor in the course of his postgraduate work. Thedevice provides the user with location-specificinformation and offers capabilities for team membertracking. Presented here are the design rationales,user interface and interaction design details as wellas software/hardware component selection andintegration steps. The book is a design case study aswell as an application-specific introduction to thefield of Augmented Reality, and is addressed toreaders of various backgrounds - Mixed Realityresearchers and enthusiasts, municipal and publicservices decision-makers, computer interface designprofessionals or students.