Augmented reality for data visualisation

Digital life has arrived to become part of our daily lives and with it new communication and information consumption habits. Concepts such as augmented reality are actively participating in this process of change in which an increasing number of companies and organisations are involved.

Differences between augmented and virtual reality

Although the nomenclature of these concepts is somewhat similar, in practice, we are talking about different scenarios:

• Virtual reality: This is a digital experience that allows the user to immerse themselves in an artificial world where they can experience sensory nuances isolated from what is happening outside.
• Augmented reality: This is a data visualisation alternative that enhances the user experience by incorporating digital elements into tangible reality. In other words, it allows visual aspects to be added to the environment around us. This makes it especially interesting in the world of data visualisation, as it allows graphic elements to be superimposed on our reality. To achieve this, it is most common to use specialised glasses. At the same time, augmented reality can also be developed without the need for external gadgets. Using the camera of our mobile phone, some applications are capable of combining the visualisation of real elements present around us with other digitally processed elements that allow us to interact with tangible reality.

In this article we are going to focus on augmented reality, which is presented as an effective formula for sharing, presenting and disseminating the information contained in datasets.

Challenges and opportunities

The use of augmented reality tools is particularly useful when distributing and disseminating knowledge online. In this way, instead of sharing a set of data through text and graphic representations, augmented reality allows us to explore ways of disseminating information that facilitate understanding from the point of view of the user experience.

These are some of the opportunities associated with its use:

• Through 3D visualisations, augmented reality allows the user to have an immersive experience that facilitates contact with and internalisation of this type of information.
• It allows information to be consulted in real time and to interact with the environment. Augmented reality allows the user to interact with data in remote locations. Data can be adapted, even in spatial terms, to the needs and characteristics of the environment. This is particularly useful in field work, allowing operators repairing breakdowns or farmers in the middle of their crops to access the up-to-date information they need, in a highly visual way, combined with the environment.
• A higher density of data can be displayed at the same time, which facilitates the cognitive processing of information. In this way, augmented reality helps to speed up comprehension processes and thus our ability to conceive new realities.

Example of visualisation of agricultural data on the environment

Despite these advantages, the market is still developing and faces challenges such as implementation costs, lack of common standards and user concerns about security.

Use cases

Beyond the challenges, opportunities and strengths, augmented reality becomes even more relevant when organisations incorporate it into their innovation area to improve user experience or process efficiency. Thus, through the use cases, we can better understand the universe of usefulness that lies behind augmented reality.

One field where they represent a great opportunity is tourism. One example is Gijón in a click, a free mobile application that makes 3 routes available to visitors. During the tours, plaques have been installed on the ground from where tourists can launch augmented reality recreations with their own mobile phone.

From the point of view of hardware companies, we can highlight the example, among a long list, of the smart helmet prototype designed by the company Aegis Rider, which allows information to be obtained without taking your eyes off the road. This helmet uses augmented reality to project a series of indicators at eye level to help minimise the risk of an accident.

The projected data includes information from open data sources such as road conditions, road layout and maximum speed. In addition, using a system based on object recognition and deep learning, the Aegis Rider helmet also detects objects, animals, pedestrians or other vehicles on the road that could pose an accident risk when they are in the same path.

In addition to road safety, but continuing with the possibilities offered by augmented reality, Accuvein uses augmented reality to prevent chronic patients, such as cancer patients, from having to suffer failed needlesticks when receiving their medication. To do this, Accuvein has designed a handheld scanner that projects the exact location of the various veins on the patient's skin. According to its developers, the level of accuracy is 3.5 times higher than that of a traditional needle stick.

On the other hand, ordinary citizens can also find augmented reality as supporting material for news and reports. Media such as The New York Times are increasingly offering information that uses augmented reality to visualise datasets and make them easier to understand.

Tools for generating visualisations with augmented reality

As we have seen, augmented reality can also be used to create data visualisations that facilitate the understanding of sets of information that, a priori, may seem abstract. To create these visualisations there are different tools, such as Flow, whose function is to facilitate the work of programmers and developers. This platform, which displays datasets through the API of the WebXR device, allows these types of professionals to load data, create visualisations and add steps for the transition between them. Other tools include 3Data or Virtualitics. Companies such as IBM are also entering the sector.

For all these reasons, and in line with the evidence provided by the previous use cases, augmented reality is positioned as one of the data visualisation and transmission technologies that have arrived to further expand the limits of the knowledge society in which we are immersed.

Content prepared by the datos.gob.es team.