The spring is here (unless you live below the equator, and somehow don’t fall off the face of the earth), and it brings some great links (and allergens) :
Librarian’s dream app – researchers from Miami University created an augmented reality meets mobile application to help keep books ordered on libraries’ shelves.
Beats me why the need the money, I always assumed they make millions, but Total Immersion gets USD $5,5M in funding led by Intel Capital (which, interestingly, also funded Layar).
Quimo from the University of South Australia, is like play-doh for augmented reality. This “deformable material” supports “freeform modeling in spatial AR environments” by embedding almost invisible AR markers.
“The Witness” is a German half-movie-half alternative reality game that uses AR (or pseudo-AR) to move the plot forward (via @GaryPHayes).
This week’s featured video is coming to us from Microsoft, a company that develops stunning technologies just to see them later made into products and sold by the likes of Apple. Here they develop a “Photosynth Lite”, enabling users to create 3d models by taking a few pictures with their cellphones. I wonder where this technology can be applied:
Hands down, this is the weirdest augmented reality game I encountered. Clic&Spot by French company Clic&Gain, is a game that adorns your face with virtual zits and challenge you to burst them as quickly as you can. Who wouldn’t this premise enticing?
The game is based on Total Immersion’s technology, and there’s even an iPad to win. Of course, an iPad is a small prize considering the trauma this game can cause you, but at least it gives you something to touch, other than your face.
Personally, I find tablet devices boring (not that I will object getting one). They simply pale in comparison to some of Mac Funamizu’s creations. But, as the iPad2 is all the rage right now, here are a few augmented reality demos running on it, making it a little bit cooler.
If you have a video of your AR app running on the iPad2, shoot me an email or leave a comment.
String on an iPad 2:
Metaio’s Junaio on an iPad 2:
Total Immersion’s Magic Mirror on an iPad 2 (first covered by Thomas):
There’s always that one guy who posts “First!” on every comment thread. Total Immersion gets to be the lucky bloke to put the first augmented reality app onto the iPad2.
And I for one salute them.
The tablets are made for a better AR experience. While the magic mirror is strictly 2010 tech, I’m good with that, since it gives a new user a quick visceral experience with the technology.
I found this week’s video on Toby’s weekend “linkfest”. It’s one more example how augmented reality can upgrade almost any old board game, this time making “battleships” more interactive. As Toby rightfully states, there’s no need for two boards when AR is deployed, as the two players can be shown different views of the same board. Still, it’s a cool demo:
Here are some of the stories you might have missed this passing week from around the AR-sphere:
Total Immersion uploaded videos of the two keynotes given in their AR Immersion conference. I find the Adobe one is quite boring, but TI’s CEO, Bruno Uzzan gives a very good talk on the past, present and future of AR.
This week’s video is short and sweet, showing how a guitar lesson can be augmented. We have seen implementations of similar ideas before, but as far as I recall, it’s the first with marker-less tracking of the guitar itself. Of course, it’s nothing but a demo, and I’ll be surprised if it tracks any guitar but the one in the video. It’s cool, nonetheless:
First, and foremost, I owe an apology to Total Immersion which I criticized for having an invitation only event (AR-Immersion). They have kindly reminded me that their event is free of charge, unlike other similar events. Anyway, you can ask for an invitation here.
Now that this is behind us, here are other things that happened in the AR-sphere:
This week’s video proves that augmented reality can be annoying at times, like a virtual fly you can shake off. Created by Michele Cirulli, this was apparently a video installation at the Live Performers Meeting this year.
LightSpace from Microsoft Research – augmenting a room with projectors and 3d cameras. As I’ve said earlier, it’s amazing how a technology that would have looked like magic just four years ago, is quite banal these days.
Now Total Immersion are having a one day AR event. It’s November the 9th in LA. Sadly, it’s an invitations only event. They should learn something from their beer loving competitors from Germany.
Today’s video is coming to us straight from ISMAR 2010. It’s a presentation of the results achieved in the paper “Build Your World and Play In It: Interacting with Surface Particles on Complex Objects” by Brett Jones and other researchers from the University of Illinois. The paper presents a way to map virtual content on 3d physical constructions and “play” with them. For more details check out Jones’ website. I think that Angry Birds would be prefect on such a platform:
Have a great week, and the lucky of you who get to be in ISMAR, take some videos, please!
Total Immersion created a five-minute augmented reality presentation for Bill Chang, EVP of the Business Group of SingTel, to visually illustrate the complex process of business cloud computing in a simple-to-understand manner. In doing so, they’ve shown us the future of presentations, at least for CEOs and other business rock star positions that can afford the service. It’s possible weather reporting schools will have an uptick in students as presenters learn how to work the screen.
Who would want to use PowerPoint if you could have augmented reality to amaze your audience? I know I wouldn’t.
I applaud the robust hand tracking, but could the game be something new rather than a Pac Man rip-off? Come on Total Immersion. You guys are better than this.
Games Alfresco 