K-eXplorer: Cellular phone ubiquitous real-world interface with distributed K-stations

This paper describes a novel interface named the K-eXplorer that provides the user with a multiple access channel to information of the real-world objects by using a smart phone (K-tai in Japanese) that people carry at almost all times. The K-eXplorer system presents interfaces to obtain information of objects in the real-world by a smartphone so that an information space is overlaid and mixed to augment the real-space where people work everyday. The system implements two interfaces, the remote interface and the direct interface, with the goals of constant connectivity, extensibility and context sensitivity. The information of remote objects can be obtained with the remote interface based on a map, images and keywords. The direct interface is embodied by introducing a K-station that augments limited connectivity of a K-tai to the real-world. Three types of K-station, the tray-, desk-light- and bag-type implementations were built to demonstrate specific functions. Consequently the augmentation of information of the real-world objects was realized as retrieval, linking, registration, tracing a history and position, and providing plan related information of objects. A user evaluation suggested the effectiveness of the system.