How infrared tracking increases the realism of multi-person videoconferencing in collaborative augmented reality

Interpersonal communication is based on acoustical and visual information exchange. Videoconferencing systems allow the communication between people separated by large distances by recording acoustical as well as visual information. In this article, we present a multi person videoconferencing system integrated in an Augmented Reality framework. Existing Augmented Reality applications already support collaborative efforts of users on different locations. The presented VCS combines these collaborative Augmented Reality applications with the functionality of a videoconferencing system at the same time and, thus, enables the users to interact with virtual content at the same time and communicate with each other in one common working space. The system was evaluated with different values for three characteristics (displaying technology, tracking system and image processing) with a focus on the rating of realism and presence of the human counterpart and the quality of the system. The results of this evaluation suggest that a system using an head-mounted display for visualization, an infrared tracking system and active image processing is rated as the most realistic visualization and evokes the highest feeling of physical attendance. This enhancement however comes with a reduction of the subjective perception of quality.