Key aspects of integrating augmented reality tools into peer-to-peer remote laboratory user interfaces

Augmented Reality (AR) is the process of overlaying meaningful information in a video stream for creating an enriched visual experience for users. Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Remote Access Laboratories (RAL) are systems where individual users or makers can build their experimental setups, program the rig and then share it with other users. This enables them to get design experience along with gaining knowledge about the particular experiment in question and potentially collaborate on design experiences. This paper focuses on the integration of AR tools with a P2P RAL system. The challenges of the P2P RAL system are that makers are to be provided with a generalized set of tools that they can use to create the experiments and program them and the AR tools have to be generic and applicable for multiple experiments. The corresponding issues discussed are the applications of AR in RAL, the levels of AR in context of RAL and their effect on the learning tools, the nature of the P2P platform, the challenges of integrating AR in the generic P2P programming platform and their solutions. The methods of implementing the AR tools in the P2P Platform are also presented.