MARA - A Mobile Augmented Reality-Based Virtual Assistant

High-end mobile devices are becoming increasing popular in every day life. Augmented reality (AR) builds on this trend by combining mobile computing with connectivity and location-awareness. In doing so, AR can provide a very rich user experience. In this paper we discuss the approach and development of an AR-based personal assistant, combining the familiar interface of a human person with the functionality of a location-aware digital information system. The paper discusses the main components of the system, including the anthropomorphic user interface as well as the results of an initial prototype evaluation.