Hokkaido University Research Profiles

Japanese
Information and Communication

AR Communication System

Avatar-based augmented reality group communication through sharing of terminal position and posture information

By using avatars as intermediaries, it is possible to communicate beyond the constraints of time and space. In this system, AR communication is realized by sharing the position and posture information of participants in group communication and reflecting it in the behavior of avatars visible from each participant's terminal.

Content of research

Since conventional avatar-based communication systems are based on one-to-one communication, it is difficult to recognize the position and posture information of each physical person participating in a communication field of three or more people where virtual and real worlds are mixed, and to control the behavior of individual avatars accordingly, while maintaining the integrity of the entire field.
In this research, we have developed an AR communication system that shares the position and posture information of physical people (e.g., smartphone terminals) participating in a communication field through recognition of a common AR target and network linkage between terminals, and reflects this information in the behavior of avatars visible from each terminal. The avatars know who and where the participants are in the communication field, and the avatar changing its pose following the movements on one participant's terminal can be seen by other participants from their own viewpoints.

  • Avatar-based AR communication

  • The view of an avatar appearing on an AR target and changing its pose by following the participant's device, as seen from another device participating in the same event.

Potential for social implementation

  • ・Teleconferencing systems, telepresence
  • ・Group cooperative learning
  • ・Sightseeing spot guide, pop advertisement
  • ・Amusement, online games

Appealing points to industry and local governments

The Advanced Network Laboratory pursues the possibilities of the near-future society opened up by ICT through empirical research on augmented reality applications by applying computer networks and computer graphics, which form the foundation of the mobile and ubiquitous information society.

2022/5/27Released