Applying mixed-augmented-virtual reality to support footwear mass customization

One of the core issues of mass customization (MC) is to provide more and more conveniences to meet customer's customized requirements, and on the other hand to ensure near mass production efficiency and quality in manufacturing processes. Virtual Reality Environment (VRE) provides an immersive environment, in which real objects are reproduced as 3D virtual "real" ones. Augmented Reality Environment (ARE) gives a real world by integrating virtual objects with real objects. Mixed Reality Environment (MRE) is to establish a blended digital-real platform, on which views of the real world are accompanied in some proportion with views of a virtual environment, through the combined use of Virtual VRE/ARE/MRE technologies. Both VRE, ARE and MRE are capable of bringing the sense of being there to human beings. Thanks to these kinds of technologies that enable to integrate customers, product designers, production planners and operators as a whole and make it available to support MC. This paper will discuss how MRE, ARE and VRE support MC from product definition, product design with the intervention of customers at the very early phase, to production process by facilitating factory reconfiguration in accordance with individual demands.