Preparing for the better typography in Augmented Reality

This is Part-I of the series of articles in which I will discuss the typographic aspects of Augmented reality. It is based on my ongoing research on typefaces for AR headsets which started as part of my MA in Typeface Design at the Department of Typography and Graphic Communication, University of Reading, UK. The articles will help the type designers and interface designers to understand the intricacies of the text in AR to improve their workflow and design process.

Let's start with the basics.

Augmented Reality (AR) is an enhanced version of a real-world environment wherein the real-world is “augmented” by computer-generated perceptual information, that can include multiple senses. On the contrary, virtual reality (VR) replaces the real world with a computer-generated environment. People often get confused between these two, however, Milgram and Kishino reality-virtuality (RV) continuum (figure 1) makes it easy to understand and clarifies some of the boundaries that define AR. According to RV continuum, AR is a part of the general area of mixed reality (MR).

Figure 1. Representation of an RV Continuum which shows the relationship between AR and VR and defines the area of Mixed Reality (MR). Based on a diagram in Augmented Reality: A class of displays on the reality-virtuality continuum by Milgram et al.

The left part of the continuum defines the environment consisting of real objects we see through our naked eyes or some sort of video display. The right part of the environment consists of only virtual objects which can be computer generated simulations, either on screen or an immersive display. Within these boundaries, the mixed reality environment is defined as one in which the real world and virtual world objects are presented together within a single display. The augmented virtuality in the continuum refers to the scenario where real objects can are mapped as part of the virtual environment (world). Example: a user’s hand can be introduced (augmented) in the virtual world in order to perform physical actions such as grabbing objects or manipulating the virtual scene.

There is also a general misconception that visual combination of virtual and real elements using special effects in sci-Fi movies is AR. Even though computer graphic techniques are used in AR, the distinguishing factor is real-time processing and interactivity. To…