GLARE: An Open Source Augmented Reality Platform for Location-Based Content Delivery

Background

Augmented Reality (AR) has been increasingly associated with place restoration and education due to its technical possibilities (Badouch at al., 2018). AR refers to the application of digital elements to real settings through the mediation of technology, from headset mounted displays (e.g., HoloLens, Magic Leap, etc.) to smartphones and supporting applications (e.g., Pokémon Go, Ingress, etc.) (Freina & Ott, 2015). The rise of mobile AR has made this technology more popular than ever and, as such, has fostered attention toward how fields like education and humanities can benefit from its features (Author 1 & Author 2, 2018). More specifically, AR has been used as a tool for making individuals active elements in their own physical context, addressing their needs and providing new stimuli for enriching reflection and community building. For instance, Garcia- Crespo et al. (2016) developed and tested an augmented reality system for improving tourism via games and quizzes activated in specific locations of historical interests. Pokrić and colleagues (2015) built an augmented reality driven game for teaching about environmental health and causes. Their system relied on air quality and other atmosphere factors as triggering parameters for delivering situational probes about pollution and nature. Harley et al. (2016) tested two AR mobile applications in Montreal historical sites and museums, finding that place identification and experiential engagement felt while using this technology were relevant and effective in teaching about cultural heritage.