Jens Grubert

University of Applied Sciences Coburg · Departement of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Learning and practicing table tennis with traditional methods is a long, tedious process and may even lead to the internalization of incorrect techniques if not supervised by a coach. To overcome these issues, the presented study proposes an exergame with the aim of enhancing young female novice players' performance by boosting muscle memory, makin...

VR has recently been promoted as a tool for knowledge workers and studies have shown that it has the potential to improve knowledge work. However, studies on its prolonged use have been scarce. A prior study compared working in VR for one week to working in a physical environment, focusing on performance measures and subjective feedback. However, a...

While the promise of autonomous vehicles has led to significant scientific and industrial progress, fully automated, SAE level 5 conform cars will likely not see mass adoption anytime soon. Instead, in many applications, human supervision, such as remote monitoring and teleoperation, will be required for the foreseeable future. While Virtual Realit...

Virtual and augmented reality (VR and AR) have the potential to change information work. The ability to modify the workers senses can transform everyday environments into a productive office, using portable head-mounted displays (HMDs) combined with conventional interaction devices, such as keyboards and tablets. While a stream of better, cheaper,...

A critical component of user studies is gaining access to a representative sample of the population researches intend to investigate. Nevertheless, the vast majority of human-computer interaction (HCI)studies, including augmented reality (AR) studies, rely on convenience sampling. The outcomes of these studies are often based on results obtained fr...

In this paper, we describe the results of replicating one of our studies from two years ago which compares two techniques for transferring content across multiple screens in VR. Results from the previous study have shown that a combined gaze and touch input can outperform a bimanual touch-only input in terms of task completion time, simulator sickn...

The durability of facades is heavily affected by multiple factors like microbial growth and weather conditions among others. Biocides are often used to resist these factors and protect the facades. However, the biocides get washed out due to rains and other factors like geometric structure of the facade, orientation of the building. It is therefore...

Learning vocabulary in a primary or secondary language is enhanced when we encounter words in context. This context can be afforded by the place or activity we are engaged with. Existing learning environments include formal learning, mnemonics, flashcards, use of a dictionary or thesaurus, all leading to practice with new words in context. In this...

Virtual Reality (VR) provides new possibilities for modern knowledge work. However, the potential advantages of virtual work environments can only be used if it is feasible to work in them for an extended period of time. Until now, there are limited studies of long-term effects when working in VR. This paper addresses the need for understanding suc...

Learning vocabulary in a primary or secondary language is enhanced when we encounter words in context. This context can be afforded by the place or activity we are engaged with. Existing learning environments include formal learning, mnemonics, flashcards, use of a dictionary or thesaurus, all leading to practice with new words in context. In this...

Virtual Reality (VR) provides new possibilities for modern knowledge work. However, the potential advantages of virtual work environments can only be used if it is feasible to work in them for an extended period of time. Until now, there are limited studies of long-term effects when working in VR. This paper addresses the need for understanding suc...

Virtual Reality (VR) has the potential to support mobile knowledge workers by complementing traditional input devices with a large three-dimensional output space and spatial input. Previous research on supporting VR knowledge work explored domains such as text entry using physical keyboards and spreadsheet interaction using combined pen and touch i...

Structure-from-motion and multi-view stereo can be used to create 3D models from image sequences, but are not widely adopted by consumers. We study how to address two challenges of such systems for non-professional users: 1) their technical complexity, and, 2) the computational demand needed for processing. To this end, we embed an open-source pipe...

Virtual Reality (VR) has the potential to support mobile knowledge workers by complementing traditional input devices with a large three-dimensional output space and spatial input. Previous research on supporting VR knowledge work explored domains such as text entry using physical keyboards and spreadsheet interaction using combined pen and touch i...

Virtual and Augmented Reality have the potential to change information work. The ability to modify the workers senses can transform everyday environments into a productive office, using portable head-mounted displays combined with conventional interaction devices, such as keyboards and tablets. While a stream of better, cheaper and lighter HMDs hav...

An increasing number of consumer-oriented head-mounted displays (HMD) for augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) are capable of finger and hand tracking. We report on the accuracy of off-the-shelf VR and AR HMDs when used for touch-based tasks such as pointing or drawing. Specifically, we report on the finger tracking accuracy of the VR head-mounted...

This chapter gives an overview of interaction techniques for mixed reality including augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR). Various modalities for input and output are discussed. Specifically, techniques for tangible and surface-based interaction, gesture-based, pen-based, gaze-based, keyboard and mouse-based, as well as haptic interaction are disc...

Virtual Reality (VR) has the potential to transform knowledge work. One advantage of VR knowledge work is that it allows extending 2D displays into the third dimension, enabling new operations, such as selecting overlapping objects or displaying additional layers of information. On the other hand, mobile knowledge workers often work on established...

As more people work from home or during travel, new opportunities and challenges arise around mobile office work. On one hand, people may work at flexible hours, independent of traffic limitations, but on the other hand, they may need to work at makeshift spaces, with less than optimal working conditions and decoupled from co-workers. Virtual Reali...

With the rise of natural user interfaces, immersive analytics applications often focus on novel forms of interaction modalities such as mid-air gestures, gaze or tangible interaction utilizing input devices such as depth-sensors, touch screens and eye-trackers. At the same time, traditional input devices such as the physical keyboard and mouse are...

Virtual Reality (VR) has the potential to transform knowledge work. One advantage of VR knowledge work is that it allows extending 2D displays into the third dimension, enabling new operations, such as selecting overlapping objects or displaying additional layers of information. On the other hand, mobile knowledge workers often work on established...

Virtual Reality (VR) can enhance the display and interaction of mobile knowledge work and in particular, spreadsheet applications. While spreadsheets are widely used yet are challenging to interact with, especially on mobile devices, using them in VR has not been explored in depth. A special uniqueness of the domain is the contrast between the imme...

Research in user interaction with mixed reality environments using multiple displays has become increasingly relevant with the prevalence of mobile devices in everyday life and increased commoditization of large display area technologies using projectors or large displays. Previous work often combines touch-based input with other approaches, such a...

Virtual Reality enables the exploration of large information spaces. In physically constrained spaces such as airplanes or buses, controller-based or mid-air interaction in mobile Virtual Reality can be challenging. Instead, the input space on and above touch-screen enabled devices such as smartphones or tablets could be employed for Virtual Realit...

In this special issue of IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics (TVCG) , we are pleased to present the TVCG papers from the 18th IEEE International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality (ISMAR 2019), held October 14–18 in Beijing, China. ISMAR continues the over 20-year long tradition of IWAR, ISMR, and ISAR, and is undoubt...

Optical see-through head-mounted displays (OST HMDs) typically display virtual content at a fixed focal distance while users need to integrate this information with real-world information at different depth layers. This problem is pronounced in body-proximate multi-display systems, such as when an OST HMD is combined with a smartphone or smartwatch...

Optical see-through head-mounted displays (OST HMDs) typically display virtual content at a fixed focal distance while users need to integrate this information with real-world information at different depth layers. This problem is pronounced in body-proximate multi-display systems, such as when an OST HMD is combined with a smartphone or smartwatch...

Physical keyboards are common peripherals for personal computers and are efficient standard text entry devices. Recent research has investigated how physical keyboards can be used in immersive head-mounted display-based Virtual Reality (VR). So far, the physical layout of keyboards has typically been transplanted into VR for replicating typing expe...

Physical keyboards are common peripherals for personal computers and are efficient standard text entry devices. Recent research has investigated how physical keyboards can be used in immersive head-mounted display-based Virtual Reality (VR). So far, the physical layout of keyboards has typically been transplanted into VR for replicating typing expe...

Digital-augmentation of print-media can provide contextually relevant audio, visual, or haptic content to supplement the static text and images. The design of such augmentation--its medium, quantity, frequency, content, and access technique--can have a significant impact on the reading experience. In the worst case, such as where children are learn...

Virtual Reality has the potential to change the way we work. We envision the future office worker to be able to work productively everywhere solely using portable standard input devices and immersive head-mounted displays. Virtual Reality has the potential to enable this, by allowing users to create working environments of their choice and by relie...

In this special issue of IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics (TVCG) , we are pleased to present the TVCG papers from the 17th IEEE International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality (ISMAR 2018), held October 16–20 in Munich, Germany. ISMAR continues the 20-year long tradition of IWAR, ISMR, and ISAR, and is undoubtedly t...

Große Umwälzungen in der Entwicklung unserer Geschichte kündigen sich mitnichten an wie eine Gewitterwolke. In der Retrospektive ragen zwar jene Singularitäten heraus, in denen sich derartige Entwicklungen oftmals in unvorhergesehener oder auch in radikaler Art und Weise entladen, aber das Große und Ganze bleibt dahinter verborgen. Dabei handelt es...

Computer Vision-based natural feature tracking is at the core of modern Augmented Reality applications. Still, Web-based Augmented Reality typically relies on location-based sensing (using GPS and orientation sensors) or marker-based approaches to solve the pose estimation problem. We present an implementation and evaluation of an efficient natural...

Computer Vision-based natural feature tracking is at the core of modern Augmented Reality applications. Still, Web-based Augmented Reality typically relies on location-based sensing (using GPS and orientation sensors) or marker-based approaches to solve the pose estimation problem. We present an implementation and evaluation of an efficient natural...

We propose a set of techniques leveraging mobile devices as lenses to explore, interact and annotate n-dimensional data visualizations. The democratization of mobile devices, with their arrays of integrated sensors, opens up opportunities to create experiences for anyone to explore and interact with large information spaces anywhere. In this paper,...

Alphanumeric text entry is a challenge for Virtual Reality (VR) applications. VR enables new capabilities, impossible in the real world, such as an unobstructed view of the keyboard, without occlusion by the user's physical hands. Several hand representations have been proposed for typing in VR on standard physical keyboards. However, to date, thes...

We study the performance and user experience of two popular mainstream text entry devices, desktop keyboards and touchscreen keyboards, for use in Virtual Reality (VR) applications. We discuss the limitations arising from limited visual feedback, and examine the efficiency of different strategies of use. We analyze a total of 24 hours of typing dat...

With the rising popularity of Augmented and Virtual Reality, there is a need for representing humans as virtual avatars in various application domains ranging from remote telepresence, games to medical applications. Besides explicitly modelling 3D avatars, sensing approaches that create person-specific avatars are becoming popular. However, afforda...

Optical see-through head-mounted displays (OST HMDs) are a major output medium for Augmented Reality, which have seen significant growth in popularity and usage among the general public due to the growing release of consumer-oriented models, such as the Microsoft Hololens. Unlike Virtual Reality headsets, OST HMDs inherently support the addition of...

Authoring location-based experiences involving multiple participants, collaborating or competing in both indoor and outdoor mixed realities, is extremely complex and bound to serious technical challenges. In this work, we present the first results of the MAGELLAN European project and how these greatly simplify this creative process using novel auth...

Smartphones are a popular device class for mobile Augmented Reality but suffer from a limited input space. Around-device interaction techniques aim at extending this input space using various sensing modalities. In this paper we present our work towards extending the input area of mobile devices using front-facing device-centered cameras that captu...

Digitalization offers chances as well as risks for industrial companies. This article describes how the area of Mixed Reality, with its manifestations Augmented and Virtual Reality, can support industrial applications in the age of digitalization. Starting from a historical perspective on Augmented and Virtual Reality, this article surveys recent d...

Around-device interaction techniques aim at extending the input space using various sensing modalities on mobile and wearable devices. In this paper, we present our work towards extending the input area of mobile devices using front-facing device-centered cameras that capture reflections in the human eye. As current generation mobile devices lack h...

We present HeadPhones (Headtracking + smartPhones), a novel approach for the spatial registration of multiple mobile devices into an ad hoc multi-display environment. We propose to employ the user's head as external reference frame for the registration of multiple mobile devices into a common coordinate system. Our approach allows for dynamic repos...

Handheld Augmented Reality commonly implements some variant of magic lens rendering, which turns only a fraction of the user's real environment into AR while the rest of the environment remains unaffected. Since handheld AR devices are commonly equipped with video see-through capabilities, AR magic lens applications often suffer from spatial distor...

Around-device interaction promises to extend the input space of mobile and wearable devices beyond the common but restricted touchscreen. So far, most around-device interaction approaches rely on instrumenting the device or the environment with additional sensors. We believe, that the full potential of ordinary cameras, specifically user-facing cam...

Handheld Augmented Reality commonly implements some variant of magic lens rendering, which turns only a fraction of the users real environment into AR while the rest of the environment remains unaffected. Since handheld AR devices are commonly equipped with video see-through capabilities, AR magic lens applications often suffer from spatial distort...

We present a novel approach for extending the input space around unmodified mobile devices. Using built-in front-facing cameras of unmodified handheld devices, GlassHands estimates hand poses and gestures through reflections in sunglasses, ski goggles or visors. Thereby, GlassHands creates an enlarged input space, rivaling input reach on large touc...

In gaming, customizing individual characters, can create personal bonds between players and their characters. Hence, character cus-tomization is a standard component in many games. While mobile Augmented Reality (AR) games become popular, to date, no 3D character editor for AR games exists. We investigate the feasibility of 3D character customizati...

Background Coordinated multi-display environments from the desktop, second-screen to gigapixel display walls are increasingly common. Personal and intimate mobile and wearable devices such as head-mounted displays, smartwatches, smartphones and tablets are rarely part of such multi-device ecosystems. Methods We conducted a literature research and a...

In gaming, customizing individual characters, can create personal bonds between players and their characters. Hence, character customization is a standard component in many games. While mobile Augmented Reality (AR) games become popular, to date, no 3D character editor for AR games exists. We investigate the feasibility of 3D character customizatio...

Augmented Reality is a technique that enables users to interact with their physical environment through the overlay of digital information. While being researched for decades, more recently, Augmented Reality moved out of the research labs and into the field. While most of the applications are used sporadically and for one particular task only, cur...

Paper documents such as passports, visas and banknotes are frequently checked by inspection of security elements. In particular, optically variable devices such as holograms are important, but difficult to inspect. Augmented Reality can provide all relevant information on standard mobile devices. However, hologram verification on mobiles still take...

One challenge of supporting in-situ sketching tasks with Magic Lenses on handheld Augmented Reality systems is to provide accurate and robust pose tracking without disrupting the sketching experience. Typical tracking approaches rely on the back-facing camera both for tracking and providing the view of the physical scene. This typically requires a...

Coordinated multi-display environments from the desktop, second-screen to gigapixel display walls are increasingly common. Personal and intimate display devices such as head-mounted displays, smartwatches, smartphones and tablets are rarely part of such a multi-display ecosystem. This presents an opportunity to realise "body proximate" display envi...