Tracking drift is a growing error in an estimated position or orientation that makes virtual content gradually lose alignment with its intended physical location.
When a digital object slowly slips away
A virtual caption begins beside a sculpture. After the visitor moves around, it appears a little farther from the plinth. If the application intended it to remain fixed, a changing tracking estimate may be responsible. The animation exaggerates this gradual separation from a stationary reference. Its loop restarts the illustration; the return to the starting position is not a demonstration of tracking recovery.
Drift is different from shaking or an authored offset
Jitter is rapid fluctuation; drift is a change that accumulates over time. A deliberate animation can also move an object, and a wrong starting transform can leave it misplaced from the beginning. These symptoms need different investigations. In particular, changing an animation keyframe to compensate for drift may make the next session start in the wrong place. Check whether the entire overlay moves together or only one animated element.
Why spatial estimates can change
In world tracking, the system maintains an estimate of the device and its surroundings. Observations are incomplete and measurements are imperfect. Sparse visual detail, changing surroundings or difficult camera conditions can make tracking less reliable, depending on the system. A spatial anchor lets the application maintain content relative to a tracked reference, but it does not certify error-free placement. Relocalization can recover a relationship with a known space; it is a separate process, not a synonym for drift.
An exhibition test that reveals the difference
For a Painta installation, check the actual tracking mode and test a static reference before adding movement. Start at a marked viewpoint, approach the work slowly, then return and compare alignment. Repeat under the venue lighting and record the device used. If room-based tracking is involved, include a longer viewing session. A short desktop preview cannot establish how accurately a physical installation will hold its placement over time.