A Study on View Sharing AR Interface for Improving Situation Awareness during Military Operations

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to propose a View Sharing Augmented Reality (AR) interface aimed at improving situation awareness (SA) during military operations. Battlefield Augmented Reality System (BARS), a mobile AR system, supports real-time battlefield situation awareness (SA) for mission execution through collaborative information sharing. Video-based View Sharing AR interface that provides the perspective of team members located remotely can enhance team-level SA. However, instances have been identified where providing the perspective of team members moving in directions different from the user’s path can lead to user confusion and have a negative impact on mission execution. In this study, we investigate the influence on SA when presenting the perspective of team members with different path direction through a View Sharing AR interface and to examine the impact of visual AR cues supporting spatial awareness on SA improvement. The study was designed to experience the View Sharing AR interface in a virtual reality (VR) environment using the Unity3D game engine. The experiments involved performing tasks to suppress enemies with three different path direction variances in perspective provision and receiving support from four visual AR cues. SA was measured through SA Global Assessment Technique (SAGAT) and Performance measurement. The research findings indicate that differences in path direction negatively affected SA, with the lowest SA observed when the path difference was 90°. Furthermore, visual AR cues, when providing Tramline cues, demonstrated the highest SA, showing interaction effects with path direction differences.

Keywords:

• View Sharing
• AR interface
• visual AR cue
• path
• situation awareness (SA)

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Gi Sung Yoo

Gi Sung Yoo is an officer in the Republic of Korea Army and undergoing a master’s program through commissioned education in the Department of Industrial Engineering from Yonsei University, South Korea. He assessed user experience in XR. His research interests involve enhancing future XR quality through design and technology.

Yong Gu Ji

Yong Gu Ji is a professor in the Department of Industrial Engineering at Yonsei University, where he directs the Interaction Design Laboratory. He received his Ph.D. in Human Factors/HCI from Purdue University. His research interests include usability/UX in future mobility and autonomous vehicles.