Augmented instructions : analysis of performance and efficiency of assembly tasks

Smith, Eleanor and Semple, Gordon and Evans, Dorothy and McRae, Kenneth and Blackwell, Paul; Chen, Jessie Y. C. and Fragomeni, Gino, eds. (2020) Augmented instructions : analysis of performance and efficiency of assembly tasks. In: Virtual, Augmented and Mixed Reality. Industrial and Everyday Life Applications. Lecture Notes in Computer Science . Springer, Cham, pp. 166-177. ISBN 978-3-030-49698-2 (https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-49698-2_12)

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Abstract

Augmented Reality (AR) technology makes it possible to present information in the user’s line of sight, right at the point of use. This brings the capability to visualise complex information for industrial maintenance applications in an effective manner, which typically rely on paper instructions and tacit knowledge developed over time. Existing research in AR instruction manuals has already shown its potential to reduce the time taken to complete assembly tasks, as well as improving accuracy [1–3]. In this study, the outcomes of several aspects of AR instructions are explored and their effects on the chosen Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) of task completion time, error rate, cognitive effort and usability are assessed. A standardised AR assembly task is also described for performance comparison, and a novel AR experimental tool is presented, which takes advantage of the flexibility of internet connected peripherals, to explore various different aspects of AR app design to isolate their effects. Results of the experiments are given here, providing insight into the most effective way of delivering information and promoting interaction between user and computer, in terms of user performance and acceptance.