However, I also believe in rapid prototyping, exploration and evaluation because that is often the most effective way to develop new interfaces and systems. Displays that interactively blend 3D virtual objects with the real world around the user have tremendous potential to help real-world tasks in navigation, the maintenance and assembly of complex equipment, medical visualization, and entertainment. Accurate tracking of the user's position and orientation is an enabling technology for more sophisticated future human-computer interfaces. These trackers must be accurate, long range, minimally encumbering, and work in many different environments, including outdoors. Hybrid combinations of different technologies will be key.
Human beings are natural pattern recognizers.
Techniques that show data in interactive 3D graphical displays exploit this capability, offering faster and better solutions than man or machine acting separately. Multimodal displays, such as those involving audio and haptic outputs, are also crucial. At HRL, we have recently begun several projects to improve collaboration among people working together, both locally and at widely separated locations. There are many human interface issues in supporting effective collaborations. Funding supports research in man-portable, outdoor Augmented Reality systems and collaborative environments that identify and connect remote experts for improved information sharing.