How can we help?
FAQ
How can I edit the overlay?
The overlay can be edited using our online tool ‘Augumenta Studio‘.
How large/small can the panel be?
Augumenta Studio limits the panel size to practical values: 170-1000mm for the width and 100-1000mm for the height. However larger or smaller sizes are technically possible, from a few centimeters to several tens of meters. Please contact Augumenta if the panel size you wish to create is outside of the Studio’s range.
Can I press two buttons at the same time with two different fingers?
Yes, any number of controls can be activated independently. This can happen both within a single panel or across multiple panels. For example, the left and right parts of a stereo fader can be moved simultaneously with two fingers.
Can multiple panels be detected at the same time?
Yes, multiple panels can be detected simultaneously. Moreover, different UIs can be overlaid if the panels have a different code. Note that the more panels the heavier the required processing, and hence the larger the lag and the shorter the battery life.
What are the maximum/minimum detection distances?
The maximum detection distance depends on many parameters such as the camera resolution, focal length, the quality of the optics, the image noise level, the performance of the detection algorithms, etc… As such it is very hard to quantify. Nevertheless, Augumenta Studio allows you to select between three target detection distances (near, normal and far) which roughly correspond to 500, 600 and 700mm (20″, 24″ and 28″). At the maximum setting (‘far’ or 700mm), the maximum detection range is typically around 2 meters (80″).
The minimum detection range is more dependent on the close-focus ability of the camera as well as on the panel being entirely visible within the camera field of view.
For both figures we recommend that you test the three detection distances with your hardware and (if possible) with the same lighting conditions as in your production setting. Contact Augumenta if your find that you need larger or smaller detection distances for your application.
Is it possible to interact with the panel while wearing gloves?
Yes, with limitations: the gloves color should be of a light (not black or dark) and uniform (no patterns or large writings). Form-fitting gloves are also preferred, and thick gloves should be avoided. Typical glove types known to work are light assembly gloves and thin surgical, nitrile or latex gloves.
Does interaction work for people with dark complexion?
Yes, with limitations: very dark complexion does not work well in low lighting conditions and makes the interaction more susceptible to reflections on the panel.
Can multiple panels with the same code be used?
Yes, if they share the exact same design (code lengths, width, height and other settings). However if panels share the same code then the app won’t be able to tell the difference between them. This means that finding out the machine (or wall, etc) on which the panel is applied is not possible anymore. In general it is considered good practice to keep panel codes different even if the same UI is to be overlaid on them.
Can multiple panels be interacted with at the same time?
Yes, interaction can happen simultaneously and independently on each detected panel. For example, you may use the right hand on the first panel and the left hand on a second panel.
Can different UIs be shown to different users?
Yes. Once the user has identifier himself the system will know his role and credentials and will be able to show an appropriate UI for the situation.
Can another color be used for the code and fiducial marks instead of white?
The white marks over a black background offer optimal contrast for the code/fiducial detection. Using another color may result in poor performance, but may be acceptable as long as the color is very light. Contact Augumenta if your application requires a custom fiducial or code color.
Can the code and fiducial marks be smaller?
The size of the code ‘pixels’ and fiducial marks affects the detection range of the panel by the glasses camera. Smaller panel features can be used if a shorter detection range is acceptable. Conversely, larger features may be necessary for longer detection ranges. Augumenta Studio allows some control over the feature size through the “detection distance” control (near, normal, far). Contact Augumenta if you need more extreme code or fiducial marks sizes.
What information is contained in the panel code?
In addition to the user-supplied code specified in Augumenta Studio, the panel code also contains the following parts:
- Various bits for internal use and future features.
- Vendor byte(s), to guarantee the code uniqueness. Contact Augumenta if you need a vendor byte assigned to your team or company.
- Checksum byte(s).
- Error correction code (ECC) bytes.
Is there a way to guarantee that a panel code be truly unique?
Yes, customers can ask Augumenta for a unique vendor ID for their team or company. This vendor ID issued by Augumenta guarantees that no one outside that team/company will use the same panel code. The team/company remains responsible for guaranteeing the uniqueness of the rest of the panel code.
In other words Augumenta is responsible for the uniqueness of the vendor ID, and the customer team/company is responsible for the uniqueness of the rest of the code. Contact Augumenta if you wish to obtain a vendor ID for your team/company.
If no vendor ID is used then the panel code ‘address space’ is shared by all Augumenta customers and uniqueness cannot be guaranteed.
How much information can be put in the panel code?
This depends on the panel width and the required detection range: a larger panel width and/or a shorter detection range allow a wider code. Conversely, a shorter width and a larger detection range restrict the code length.
Augumenta Studio allows up to 8 user code bytes (64 bits), provided that the panel width and detection range are appropriate. Even longer codes are technically possible; contact Augumenta if your user code needs to be longer than 64 bits.
How can one identify who is using the panel?
User identification must happen within the glasses, for example when the glass user logs in. A pair of glasses could also be tied to a specific user or role (operator, maintenance,…)
How precise is the panel position/orientation?
Within interaction distance the precision is typically within a few millimeters/degrees. Precision and accuracy will depend on external factors such as panel planarity, lighting, camera and smart glasses specs; contact Augumenta if you need detailed characterization for your application.
Can someone else interact with the panel once the glass-wearing user is gone?
No, because the UI and the interaction are happening within the first user’s glasses, and once he’s gone the panel is not being seen by any glasses and therefore cannot be interacted with. Remember that the physical panel is a purely passive surface that is only there to show the glasses where to overlay a UI; it contains no interaction capabilities in itself such as touch detection.
Can a second user interfere with the panel interaction?
Yes, a second user can put his hand over a panel and interfere with the interaction of a first legitimate user. This does not require the interfering user to wear any glasses. However, the interfering user will not see the UI shown to the legitimate user and his interference is thus limited.
Can the panel colors be inverted (white background with black marks)?
A white background would result in a very poor overlay contrast and therefor cannot be done. See “Can another color be used as background instead of black?”
Can another color be used as background instead of black?
The black background offers optimal contrast for the UI overlay display, the code/fiducial detection and the finger detection. Using another color may result in poor performance, but may be acceptable as long as the color is very dark. Contact Augumenta if your application requires a custom background color.