UniverZ: Put on a pair of glasses, and no car will ever catch you by surprise. Sci-Fi? Maybe not

Chasing Pokémon through the streets with a smartphone in your hand? Augmented reality can do much more than that. Tomáš Macháč from FST UWB sees augmented reality as a way to improve road safety and make navigation more intuitive. His research was awarded the Fulbright Scholarship.

Getting a Fulbright Scholarship isn't easy, but it's definitely worth applying for, says Tomáš Macháč of FST UWB.

When there's a human behind the wheel, you can simply make eye contact and instantly know whether the driver has seen you. But how can you be sure of that when there's no driver in the vehicle at all? These are among the many questions explored by Tomáš Macháč, a PhD student at the University of West Bohemia's Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. His research project on the use of augmented reality (AR) in transportation has received support from both the Czech and U.S. governments. Thanks to the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship, the young researcher will collaborate with leading experts in the field at a university in Virginia, USA.

„Profesor Doug Bowman je naprostou legendou v našem oboru. Na Virginia Tech vede laboratoř zaměřenou na interakci člověka s počítačem. Zabývají se primárně 3D uživatelským rozhraním, ať už ve virtuálním nebo rozšířeném prostoru," říká Tomáš Macháč. On se ale v USA zaměří jen na AR, tedy technologii, která rozšiřuje reálný svět o virtuální prvky. „Známým příkladem AR aplikace bylo Pokémon GO, kde se člověk pohyboval po reálném světě na základě GPS. Dnes se rozšířená realita běžně používá i v živém vysílání, třeba ve Formuli 1, kdy se nad vozy objevují jména pilotů a různé šipky. My ale budeme používat speciální brýle, přes které uvidíme virtuální elementy přímo v zorném poli," vysvětluje Macháč.

"Professor Doug Bowman is a true legend in our field. At Virginia Tech, he leads a laboratory focused on human–computer interaction. Their research primarily explores 3D user interfaces, whether in virtual or augmented environments," says Tomáš Macháč. During his stay in the United States, however, Macháč will focus exclusively on augmented reality (AR), a technology that enhances the real world with virtual elements. "A well-known example of an AR application was Pokémon GO, where users moved around the real world using GPS. Today, augmented reality is also widely used in live broadcasts, for example, in Formula 1, where drivers' names and various graphics are overlaid above the cars. Our research, however, will use special AR glasses that display virtual elements directly within the user's field of view," Macháč explains.

Macháč's research focuses on human–computer interaction and aims to improve road safety in the era of autonomous vehicles. "We designed interfaces to help cyclists anticipate and avoid potential hazards. We tested them in real-world conditions with members of the cycling community," the PhD student explains, describing the first phase of his research. He plans to further develop this work during his stay in the United States. "At Virginia Tech, we'll be working on context-aware adaptive interfaces for augmented reality. It sounds complicated, but the basic idea is simple: the system should adapt to the user's situation, much like your phone automatically switches to a simplified interface with larger icons when it's connected to your car, making it easier and safer to use," he says. According to Macháč, communication between humans and machines should always be intuitive, concise, and clear.

Že získal Fulbrightovo stipendium, vnímá student ZČU jako poctu a svůj dosud největší úspěch. „Když vás vyberou, je to skvělé, protože se účastní zhruba trojnásobek lidí, než kolik jich přijmou. Procento úspěšnosti je tedy velmi nízké. Mnoho absolventů Fulbrightových stipendií jsou laureáti významných cen, známé osobnosti, nebo lidé, kteří dosáhli velkých úspěchů v technických, uměleckých či humanitních oborech," říká čerstvý stipendista. Fulbrightovy stipendijní programy poskytují Čechům příležitost studovat, provádět výzkum nebo vyučovat ve Spojených státech. Společně je financují vlády obou zemí.

Receiving a Fulbright Scholarship is something the UWB student considers both a great honor and the biggest achievement of his academic career so far. "Being selected is an incredible feeling because roughly three times as many people apply as are ultimately accepted. The success rate is therefore very low. Many Fulbright alumni have gone on to become recipients of major awards, well-known public figures, or leaders in fields such as engineering, the arts, and the humanities," says the newly awarded Fulbright scholar. The Fulbright Program allows Czech citizens to study, conduct research, or teach in the United States. The scholarships are jointly funded by the governments of the Czech Republic and the United States.

The full interview is available on Spotify or on YouTube.