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Wirkung unterschiedlicher mobiler Augmented-Reality-Systeme auf die Beanspruchung im industriellen Arbeitsprozess

Aim: Because of the increasing complexity of industrial work processes, the use of so-called virtual reality technical support is becoming more common. Mobile augmented reality (MAR) offers work assistance solutions for complex manual production processes in a variety of fields of application. In such processes, appropriate information is projected into the user’s field of vision, e.g. via headmounted displays (HMD). The aim of the present study was to estimate the strain reaction of workers using two different HMDs: Nomad and LitEye. The results were to indicate whether one of the tested HMDs was to be preferred for industrial processes.

Methods: 10 male volunteers (age 27.7 ± 3.2 years) were enrolled for this study. The psycho- physiological strain of two hours work in a reference workplace fulfilling selection tasks with the two HMDs (Nomad vs. LitEye) and the usual method with a paper list (PL) was estimated. For strain evaluation, the mental state scale of Zerssen & Koeller (1976), the profile of mood state (or Eigenzustandskala) of Nitsch (1976) and a complaints questionnaire were applied for all participants before and after work. The heart rate variability (HRV) was recorded during the whole twohour work phase using a digital long-time ECG-recorder (Microvit MT-101, Schiller). In addition, the number of tasks completed and the number of errors were determined as parameters of performance.

Results: The comparison of the two HMDs did not reveal any differences in strain. Nor did the HRV indices reveal any differences. The number of tasks completed was significantly lower with the paper list than with the HMDs. With the Nomad-HMD, the number of counting errors was less than with the LitEye- HMD.

Conclusions: These results show that both tested HMDs are suitable for continuous twohour application in selection tasks. The use of MAR does not result in a higher strain for the user, independent of the HMD technology. In order to decide which tested HMD is more eligible for industrial manufacturing further long-term investigations are necessary.