An augmented reality device provides a virtual mask that surrounds the viewer and includes a variation that provides information about the direction to a target item. The variation, which may be a variation in transparency, color, geometric shape, texture, material, lighting, or shading, is associated with the position of the target item so that orientation of the variation in the virtual mask does not change with respect to the direction of the target item. A portion of the virtual mask that is in the direction that the viewer is facing is displayed over the real-world image with the variation in the virtual mask providing information to the viewer about the direction of the target item. When the viewer rotates with respect to the target item, a different portion of the virtual mask that is in the current field of view is displayed.