Head-Mounted Displays presents an evolution in our interaction with computers, allowing us to merge the digital world with our present reality. Products like the Google Glass, Recon Jet and Oculus Rift are gaining increasing momentum with consumers and opens up a range of possibilities for the future of human computer interaction.
For this project, I had to design a controller suitable for operators of heavy machinery (diggers, excavators, etc) that are wearing head mounted display. These can be used for training or aiding the operation of the machines; for example providing a real-time overlay of underground pipes to the driver of an excavator.
By following a user-centred design process, I developed a hardware controller (with Arduino and a combination of 3D printing and casting) along with a software interface (using Processing and the ControlP5 library) that met our design brief.
Below are some diagrams and photos of the process.
