HoloComm: An Augmented Reality – Based Public Information and Navigation System

The continuous evolution of smart city infrastructure has created a growing demand for intelligent and user-oriented public information systems. People moving through unfamiliar urban locations often experience difficulty in identifying essential public services such as transportation centers, healthcare facilities, government offices, and emergency support services. Traditional navigation methods largely depend on static maps, text-based instructions, or list-oriented interfaces, which require constant interpretation and can result in confusion, time delays, and reduced awareness of surroundings. This paper introduces HoloComm, an augmented reality–based public information and navigation system that combines mobile Internet of Things (IoT) principles to deliver real-time and context-aware guidance. The proposed solution utilizes smartphones as mobile IoT edge devices by exploiting inbuilt components such as GPS, camera, orientation sensors, and network connectivity. By presenting location-specific public information directly within the user’s real-world camera view, HoloComm improves spatial perception and minimizes dependence on conventional map-based navigation. The system adopts a modular and extensible architecture that includes location identification, data processing, service category selection, and augmented reality visualization modules. Public service information is dynamically selected and filtered based on the user’s current position and chosen service type, enabling accurate and efficient visualization of nearby facilities. The integration of AR elements such as directional indicators and contextual markers enhances navigation efficiency and user engagement, particularly for first-time users and emergency scenarios. Experimental evaluation shows that HoloComm can be effectively implemented on commonly available Android smartphones, making it a practical and economical solution for smart city applications. Overall, the system demonstrates how the integration of augmented reality and mobile IoT concepts can transform public information access into a more immersive, intuitive, and interactive experience.