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Archives of Business Research – Vol. 13, No. 1
Publication Date: January 25, 2025
DOI:10.14738/abr.131.18207.
Kurani, P. (2025). Vista Eyes. Archives of Business Research, 13(1). 58-70.
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
Vista Eyes
Prachit Kurani
ABSTRACT
This project aims at designing and developing an augmented reality application
which will enable us to visualize and debug networks using an overlay of network
information on the network devices. We propose an augmented reality technique
to achieve this. Using 2D/3D image tracking offered by various libraries, the
network devices can be identified by the system. Once the device is identified, it can
be queried for various network parameters such as ping response time, number of
open connections, amount of data transferred per second, number of network
interfaces etc. The data can then be aggregated and analyzed. Once analysis is
completed, visual representations of this data can be streamed to a VR device such
as the Oculus/google cardboard. The oculus/cardboard then overlays this data on
the network device itself.
Keywords: Augmented, Google cardboard, Oculus, Networks, OpenGLES2.0, 3D, Vuforia.
INTRODUCTION
Computer networks have proliferated everyday life. We have lots of network devices even in
small home networks. It has become increasingly difficult to debug these problems as the
networks grow. This project deals with real time augmented reality which helps in visualizing
the flow of network using google cardboard.
Symbols and images are centrally wired in our brains. They compose the foundation upon
which we communicate with one another. Think about it: Any word you read is associated with
things you’ve seen or heard. We believe in “seeing is believing” and Vista Eyes App aims to bring
this concept into reality.
“Have you ever faced difficulty understanding and debugging networks? “Just by looking at an
issue, it becomes very hard to analyze the problem and understand how and why packets flow
in a particular fashion. Imagine seeing packets flowing from your router to the computer or
analyzing networking concepts in augmented reality.
From a practical point of view, I want to create a meaningful augmented reality App proving
you can experience the technology to its fullest for minimal expense and without hooked up to
a clunky helmet. Using 2D/3D image tracking offered by various libraries, the network devices
can be identified by the system. Once the device is identified, it can be queried for various
network parameters such as ping response time, number of open connections, amount of data
transferred per second, number of network interfaces etc. The data can then be aggregated and
analyzed. Once analysis is completed, visual representations of this data can be streamed to a
VR device such as the Oculus/Google cardboard. The oculus/cardboard then overlays this data
on the network device itself.
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Kurani, P. (2025). Vista Eyes. Archives of Business Research, 13(1). 58-70.
URL: http://doi.org/10.14738/abr.131.18207
This project aims at creating an experience, a new way to visualize and debug networks using
an overlay of network information on the network devices. I propose an augmented reality
technique to achieve this. Your phone and tablet can be so much more than they already are.
Vista Eyes will deliver a platform which can be used for educational purposes and personal use.
COMMERCIAL OPPORTUNITY
Augmented and Virtual reality has tremendous potential and is expected to reach $150 Billion
in 2020 [3]. This industry has vast applications from educational purposes to medical field. This
project mainly targets two areas viz. as a new educational tool and as a tool for network
administrators to quickly and easily visualize complex computer networks.
According to Vartan Gregorian, President of the Carnegie Corporation of New York, investing
in education is key to America’s future success [1].
Vista Eyes is designed and built for multiple purposes. But our product is focused at educational
institutes. Private networking courses to university level network analysis and debugging
courses require enhanced tools and software to be effective at teaching students. Vista eyes is
a one stop solution for all network visualization and debugging needs. It also explores latest
human computer interaction method and is highly cost effective since it utilizes the cheap
Google cardboard platform armed with an Android device. Most institutes already have this
infrastructure setup and can easily employ the use of Vista eyes with minimal expenditure on
hardware and software.
The forecast of revenues expected for these upcoming technologies in the coming years.
Generating a foothold into this niche today, guarantees that such a project can earn a good
revenue as the year’s progress,
Additional functionality will be added to this system, making it easier to use and much more
versatile, thereby making it a much sought after product not only by schools and universities,
but also by large data centers and even home network enthusiasts. Our company can bank on
increasing revenues from app downloads across platforms and may move on to develop custom
solutions for paying customers. Future plans may also include production line augmented
reality and even custom-made augmented reality visors for special purposes.
Project Justification and Innovation
With respect to current generation, it is very important to incorporate audio visual learning.
Augment reality applications came into existence in early 2015. To simplify the need to grasp
new items became easy with these applications. Many applications have stored database which
is indirectly hardcoded data. This project aims to make an application which is real time.
It is very easy to understand the concepts of network if we can visualize it in real time. It is very
difficult to visualize and debug networks using overlay network information on network
devices. We propose to employ an augmented reality technique to achieve this.
Preliminary research indicates that there exist multiple AR libraries viz- Vuforia, MetaIO SDK,
D’fusion, ARmedia and Droid AR. Using 2D/3D image tracking offered by these libraries, the
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Archives of Business Research (ABR) Vol. 13, Issue 1, January-2025
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
network devices can be identified by the system. Once the device is identified, it can be queried
for various network parameters such as ping response time, number of open connections,
amount of data transferred per second, number of network interfaces etc. The data can then be
aggregated and analyzed. Once analysis is completed, visual representations of this data can be
streamed to a VR device such as the google cardboard. The cardboard then overlays this data
on the network device itself.
For instance, if we would like to visualize the network connection form computer A to computer
B. This can be achieved by implementing the 2D/3D feature tracking module which can run on
a mobile device. The next part would be to retrieve of network information from the device
using various techniques followed by overlaying this information on google cardboard.
The android app works on android runtime environment or JDK. Within the linux kernel, the
app might use functions like camera driver. This is one of the key features that Vista eyes will
be needed as the visualization of network from one system to another with mobile camera.
Another key feature used would be display driver. Communication between the systems will be
prominent and can be visible when it will be reflected on to the mobile screen. Various other
functions used from the kernel would be Wi-Fi driver to be the systems and mobile in same
LAN network. Some other internal drives will also be used.
There are various libraries with android architecture. Some libraries that can be used explicitly
are media framework. This can be used to maintain visual connection on the mobile device.
Along with that many other core libraries will be used implicitly. Application framework is a
part of architecture where the functioning will be established by activity manager, windows
manager, view system, package manager available to make sure to have established framework
before it goes to application. At application level, a set of core applications which includes maps
or email well coded in Java programing.
Vista eyes will make us visible through augment reality if there is any kind of data transfer from
one system to another system. We can visualize the transfer through google cardboard. Google
cardboard has two 3D lens through which real time transfer can be seen. This is possible
through the mobile phone’s camera placed inside the google cardboard.
TECHNICAL DISCUSSION AND R&D
The Vista project is aimed at creating a new way to visualize computer network data, in real –
time. I propose to develop a low – cost augmented reality visor system to view network data.
This has many practical uses. Since network data and connections are an abstract phenomenon,
it is difficult for students learning computer networks to grasp and imagine networks. With the
help of Vista visors, it becomes easy to “see” the network data flow from system to system and
thereby easily visualize and imagine computer networks. Apart from being of great help to
students to initially begin network visualization, we envision that this will become an
invaluable tool used by network administrators and network technicians to debug large and
complex networks.
Let’s break down how each aspect and see how the entire experience will work.
1. You download the Vista Eyes App on your phone/tablet.