Augmented Reality, Space of Operations
Workspace
Augmented reality effects generally operate in two different spaces, camera space and world space. Camera space is confined to the device, effects in this space will move with the camera and will in general stay within the bounding box of the device’s screen. Objects in world space will be anchored to the environment. This means that you can walk around the object, turn the camera, and the object will remain where it was placed in the physical world. Both spaces are specialized in their uses. You would not place a mask, that you want to overlay on someone’s face, into World space. This would require the person to be standing in the perfect location for the mast to appear like it is being worn. And likewise if you want to create a lifelike 3D model, you wouldn’t put it into camera space; which would cause the object’s location to be anchored to the device’s screen. Each space has its purpose so it is up to developers to choose the correct space for their effect to work in.
Target Trackers VS Plane Trackers
Both Target trackers and Plane trackers are methods of anchoring objects into world space. Target trackers are programmed to search for a specific image, or scene, and then overlay an effect onto that target. It is very similar to how a QR code works. Plane tracking effects can be anchored to any surface that is deemed usable to the device. Be it table, or floor for a horizontally based effect, or wall if the effect is made for a vertical surface, a plane tracker will anchor the effect to the flat surface. If the effect is going to be created with a target tracker, it is common courtesy to place target markers on screen until the target is located. This will give the user visual feedback that the effect is working, and help them place the target in a location where the device will be able to easily recognize it.
In practice with Digital Signage
Target tracking will be a very useful asset when it comes to digital signage. If the sign was placed with a plane tracker it has no set location and can therefore be placed in locations that are not accurate to the information that is being portrayed. Signs can work equally well in camera space as they do in world space. If the sign is placed in camera space the user would be able to zoom in and navigate with the touch of a finger after locating the target. In world space a sign can be represented as something familiar and nostalgic, a physical sign placed in a specific location, but it could cause some frustration if the sign is not legible in the location that it is placed, or at the scale that it was made in.