Intuitive interaction with semantics using augmented reality: a case study of workforce management in an industrial setting

Abstract

Semantic technologies are a powerful tool able to give meaning to flat data by creating ontologies that link information systems that live separately, but which complement each other in order to provide a common understanding of a domain. However, these technologies are also often seen as difficult to profit from due to their limited availability to non-experts. Tools to manipulate and to interact with information contained in ontologies are restricted to the very tools experts use to create such ontologies, or in the best case to traditional user interfaces built for specific applications relying on ontologies. In this paper, we present an innovative way to access, manipulate, and interact with semantic information by combining this powerful data basis with the benefits of Augmented Reality technologies. We look at an industrial setting with role-based and intuitive access to a semantic source of contextualized information regarding workforce, asset and inventory management as well as assigned tasks. In this approach industrial managers and service technicians are supported during their decision making processes and execution of assigned tasks.