Architecture
ARToolkit, OpenGL and GLUT are used as a plattform independent basesystem. They provide the necessary input and output channels for interactive applications. ARGUI builds an additional abstraction layer on top of this to provide the easy creation of 2D User Interfaces in Augmented Reality. It also seperates the C-coded ARGUI/ARToolkit kernel from the C++ style arObjects.
ARGUIs most important class is called arObject. It provides the programmer with a unified interface for programming interactive graphics in AR. By deriving from this baseclass, the programmer automatically gets a pointer-sensitive surface which generates local cursor-coordinates when the surface is hit by the system cursor (see Colour Picking).
Features
On top of this, more functionality requires more API dependency. A texturemanager which currently loads PNG and Targa files can be utilized. Sound can be realized with libraries like Bass, FMod or the like. Textures can be updated. Both, by Software or by Hardware.
ARGUI implements the glGUI system which allows the easy creation of graphical user interfaces with Hardware acceleration.
Macromedia Flash movies can be played by using the original Flash ActiveX Control and rendering its output to a texture. The graphical output works perfect but the emulation of mouse- and key-events is still not complete. Once this is done, additional ActiveX controls can be adapted for Augmented Reality applications in no time.
