Look Behind You! – Using a Face Camera for Mobile Augmented Reality Odometry

Augmented reality applications provide new ways of presenting cultural heritage assets thanks to the recent advancement in field smart devices. Unfortunately, construction hardware and lower computational power mobile processors limit potential these applications. Namely, almost all current visual-inertial odometry libraries employed smartphones require real tracked objects be close contain distinguishable features, which is an issue when observing large virtual structures outdoors like historical buildings or on plain walls halls museums. This paper exploits possibility using face cameras available devices for augmented tracking. It designs a prototype composed iPhone iPad evaluates its contribution two scenarios that systems cannot handle. The results reveal clear benefit this approach heritage, allowing it operate situations users look up sky see roof buildings, they move closer white wall perceive details painting. In end, discusses system’s limitations proposes solutions them.