Enhancing Security and Privacy in Head-Mounted Augmented Reality Systems Using Eye Gaze

Augmented Reality (AR) devices are set apart from other mobile devices by the immersive experience they offer. Specifically, head-mounted AR devices can accurately sense and understand their environment through an increasingly powerful array of sensors such as cameras, depth sensors, eye gaze trackers, microphones, and inertial sensors. The ability of these devices to collect this information presents both challenges and opportunities to improve existing security and privacy techniques in this domain. Specifically, eye gaze tracking is a ready-made capability to analyze user intent, emotions, and vulnerability, and as an input mechanism. However, modern AR devices lack systems to address their unique security and privacy issues. Problems such as lacking local pairing mechanisms usable while immersed in AR environments, bystander privacy protections, and the increased vulnerability to shoulder surfing while wearing AR devices all lack viable solutions. In this dissertation, I explore how readily available eye gaze sensor data can be used to improve existing methods for assuring information security and protecting the privacy of those near the device. My research has presented three new systems, BystandAR, ShouldAR, and GazePair that each leverage user eye gaze to improve security and privacy expectations in or with Augmented Reality. As these devices grow in power and number, such solutions are necessary to prevent perception failures that hindered earlier devices. The work in this dissertation is presented in the hope that these solutions can improve and expedite the adoption of these powerful and useful devices.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Computer Science & Applications

Department dc:contributor.department

Computer Science and#38; Applications

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2024

Author dc:creator

• Corbett, Matthew

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Ji, Bo

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Lou, Wenjing
• Shang, Jiacheng
• David-John, Brendan Matthew
• Raymond, David Richard

• privacy
• security
• augmented reality
• eye gaze tracking

Statement dc:rights

• Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Dc Identifier Other

vt_gsexam:39734

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/118653