Test and Validation of a Multi-Block Solution for Improved Tracking in Outdoor Scenarios: A Case Study in the Pinocchio Park

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Dear authors

 A more complete abstract, closer to the IMRaD structure, is recommended.

Develop a more extensive and robust background and identify the research questions explicitly.

The results are very schematic.

The discussion is almost non-existent.

No conclusions

There are only 7 references

Best regards

Author Response

Thank you for your constructive comments. We have revised the paper taking into utmost consideration all remarks raised by the reviewers as explained in detail below. A special markup has been used for all the changes made in the submitted revised version of this paper using MS Word tracking feature. A clean version with no comments is also provided to ease the reading.

Point 1. A more complete abstract, closer to the IMRaD structure, is recommended.

Response 1. Thank you for your comment. We have transformed and re-written the abstract according to your suggestion. However, we did not explicit the IMRaD structure since it is not common in papers published in "MDPI Information". The abstract now reads:

Augmented reality techniques have recently found many applications in the field of cultural heritage. When used in outdoor scenarios, however, this technology can have several issues, mainly due to unstable light conditions, jeopardising the users' experience. Various solutions to this problem have been proposed in the literature; however, none of them is fully effective. This paper introduces a solution based on a multi-block image target segmentation and a dedicated add-on for the Unity3D game engine. After tests in the lab, the solution was validated in a real scenario at Pinocchio Park (Collodi, Italy), using two different Augmented Reality (AR) libraries and comparing it to a standard methodology. Quantitative results show that the proposed approach provides superior performance and usability. Although the proposed solution is still open to improvement, it combines effectiveness and ease of implementation without any drawbacks.

Point 2. Develop a more extensive and robust background and identify the research questions explicitly.

Response 2. We have reworked the background section adding information about the crucial tracking problem and describing the pros and cons of possible approaches. We included a new survey as a reference as well as specific examples taken from cultural heritage. We also introduce some examples of markers typically used in tracking and briefly mention other additional technologies. The importance of accurate tracking for granting an acceptable users' experience now emerges in a clear way, and, therefore, the quest for methods like the one addressed in our research is well motivated.

Point 3. The results are very schematic.

Response 3. We have tried to improve the presentation of this section, which in our opinion, communicates clearly and briefly the results of the experiments and the quantitative data we collected. Should you have any specific suggestions, please let us know.

Point 4. The discussion is almost non-existent.

Response 4. We have extended the discussion.

Point 5. No conclusions

Response 5. We added the conclusion section with some hints on future works and perspectives.

Point 6. There are only 7 references

Response 6. New references were added in this revised version, mostly in response to the background analysis. We believe that the references are now adequate for the manuscript's length and scope. However, should there be some relevant omissions, please inform us, and we will consider further additions.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

This text illustrates a way of using a 2 and 3d animation in augmented reality applied in an outdoor environment, specifically in the Collodi park at the square of mosaics.

The animations were difficult to navigate and difficult for the viewer to track due to the ambient light and shadow conditions. the technical report is appropriate and detailed and illustrates the proposed solution or an augmented reality tool and application.

From the humanistic point of view it is important that where technological tools are introduced and added for the experience of a cultural or naturalistic environment for the viewer, these tools are efficient and immediate, under penalty of not using them.

At the slightest difficulty, the user abandons the App and every tool. Therefore the devices must guide intuitively and with discretion and not rely on user skills that could be even of minimal consistency.

The Pinocchio park was conceived in an era when games were manual: today this manual skill is replaced by the possibilities of interaction with the mobile phone.

For a long time the cultural assets starting from the Archaeological Museum of Naples have been taking advantage of these opportunities related to gaming to attract the new young audience who knows how to use these devices at best but who does not like the old exhibition mode.

The solution of technical problems allows you to enjoy the immersive experience more immediately with optimal results.

Author Response

This text illustrates a way of using a 2 and 3d animation in augmented reality applied in an outdoor environment, specifically in the Collodi park at the square of mosaics.

The animations were difficult to navigate and difficult for the viewer to track due to the ambient light and shadow conditions. the technical report is appropriate and detailed and illustrates the proposed solution or an augmented reality tool and application.

Thank you for your constructive comments. We have revised the paper taking into utmost consideration all remarks raised by the reviewers as explained in detail below. A special markup has been used for all the changes made in the submitted revised version of this paper using MS Word tracking feature. A clean version with no comments is also provided to ease the reading.

Point 1. From the humanistic point of view it is important that where technological tools are introduced and added for the experience of a cultural or naturalistic environment for the viewer, these tools are efficient and immediate, under penalty of not using them.

At the slightest difficulty, the user abandons the App and every tool. Therefore the devices must guide intuitively and with discretion and not rely on user skills that could be even of minimal consistency.

Response 1. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. In the revised version we extended the background section, also taking into account the users' experience.

Point 2. The Pinocchio park was conceived in an era when games were manual: today this manual skill is replaced by the possibilities of interaction with the mobile phone.

For a long time the cultural assets starting from the Archaeological Museum of Naples have been taking advantage of these opportunities related to gaming to attract the new young audience who knows how to use these devices at best but who does not like the old exhibition mode.

The solution of technical problems allows you to enjoy the immersive experience more immediately with optimal results.

Response 2. This is precisely the spirit of our work: solve technical problems to have more immediate access to an immersive experience. In the current version, we cited two further successful examples of the use of AR in cultural heritage, besides a recent survey on the topic.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf