Proc. 5th Eurographics Ireland Chapter Workshop, Eurographics Ireland Workshop Series, Volume 3, Eds.: D. Murphy and J.O'Mullane, 9th Sept, Cork, Ireland, 16-23, (2004). ISSN: 1649-1807. © The Eurographics Association 2004 Using XML Technologies to Present Digital Content with Augmented Reality N. Mourkoussis, F. Liarokapis, A. Basu, M. White, P.F. Lister University Sussex, Department of Informatics, Centre for VLSI and Computer Graphics, Falmer, BN1 9QT, UK Abstract This paper presents a low cost architecture that extensively uses XML technologies to present generic digital content using the web and augmented reality. We describe our client-server architecture with particular emphasis on unique XML schemas that are used to design a generic XML repository and illustrate its use with two different application scenarios. Our solution allows management through XML and publication to a visualisation client supporting both virtual and augmented reality integrated with standard web browsing. Two application scenarios have been developed to illustrate the effectiveness of the system. Categories: Virtual and Augmented Reality, Computer Graphics, XML, Web Services. 1. Introduction This paper presents our work and research findings on developing our low cost client-server architecture and its components for visualising digital content over the Internet or an intranet using XML, Web3D, Virtual and Augmented Reality (AR). Following our goals for multi-spaces visualisation and user interaction we have developed a prototype system called ARCOLite. This system can provide users with an interactive visualisation of digital content using web-based presentations and extending them into AR presentations. In the past years only a few systems that combine VR, AR and Internet technologies have been developed. OpenTracker is an AR system based on XML tools used for development, configuration and documentation [RS03]. Another example is MARS, an authoring tool for creating and editing 3D hypermedia narratives based on XML, VR and AR technologies [GF03]. In addition, 2D applications, like internet applications can control the models displayed in the AR environment [Reg02]. ARITI is another system that allows a user-friendly operation interaction with the virtual representation in order to achieve difficult tasks remotely [OMK * 00]. However, most of the developed architectures are designed based on dedicated software and hardware systems mostly without making in-depth use of all technologies. The motivation of this work is to allow users to navigate through web-based presentations and extend them into immersive table-top AR presentations. The key feature of AR visualisation is that digital information can be augmented in the physical space such as a table-top environment. The AR interface allows the user to examine and manipulate the digital information (a 3D representation of a real world object) in the context of the physical table-top space. This provides an ideal low cost, novel and effective learning experience because, for example, the user can examine some physical objects on the table-top and within the same space see how these objects are related spatially. That is, how the objects are arranged in three-dimensional space. The digital information can also be animated thus giving the user a greater understanding of the objects, their use and meaning. The remainder of this paper is organised as follows. In Section 2, an overview of the system is described based on the conceptual architecture of the system. Section 3