Augmented virtuality combines elements of virtual reality and augmented realities studies, with the goal of combining virtual images in assisting hardware to operate in a physical environment. It explores ways in which an individual can teleoperate a robotic system to achieve a task. This paper presents one such effort, illustrated with a Robotino robotic system, and studies the experiences of 16 subjects in navigating the robot to avoid obstacles. Two interfaces are studied, and a conclusion is drawn based on the individuals’ driving abilities. The interfaces present various levels of details and readings from the robotics sensors, while providing a video stream from the environment the robot is in.

The authors conclude that the additional information on the interface does not necessarily impede the ability of the individual to navigate. Study of the interfaces is an important component of augmented virtuality; after all, this is primarily a human-computer interaction (HCI) area. With both interfaces, the NASA task load index (NASA-TLX) is similar.

This paper reports on an ongoing effort to create a navigational assistance system for motor-disabled users. The implications would certainly cover an augmented area of applications.