c0dehexwitch

Coming to a Jumbotron near you. (Blame Canada)

2010-08-18T12:46:00.001-04:00

Okay, first today, it was the Brits, now it's the Canadians. What the heck? Anyways, here we go:

We all know what a JumboTron is, right? It's been the saving grace of those stuck in the 'nosebleed' sections of the stadiums, for years, now. Thanks to Ad Dispatch, that same screen, which provides replays, score overlays, and "kiss cams", can now bring it's audience participation to the next level: Augmented Reality in the Stadium.

Now, everyone can (potentially) be a Cheesehead. or other hardcore fan, without the odd stares in traffic. I can imagine this same technology used in concerts and 'professional' wrestling, as well.

Go, and see.

Gime a break! Kit Kat Scouting for Girls.

2010-08-18T12:29:00.000-04:00

You know, I really got to think about moving...to the U.K. They're positively hammering the rest of the world, in terms of embracing augmented reality. My latest proof? Kit Kat . No, not the U.S. Kit Kat, oh no. That would be too easy for me to get a hold of. The U.K. Kit Kat has an upcoming promotion featuring ar tagging on it's product that, when played, features a cool little music video by Scouting for Girls, a British pop band.

My opinion? Positively brilliant. Great use of marketing, brand awareness, and "hip-and-now" savvy. Did you know that Kit Kat has been around sine the 1930's? (as Rowntree's Chocolate Crisp )? Now, they've got AR, too.

Those Brits are making me jealous. Maybe we shouldn't have had that Revolution.

Go, and see.

The potential to revive "dead" media.

2010-08-14T08:58:00.000-04:00

Well, we've all heard that "print media is dead/dying", right? A disposable print medium will never keep up with the insta-click updated internet, right? Perhaps not. Take this video, for instance, from Kompas, one of Indonesia's largest newspapers.

"A newspaper?" you ask? "That's so 20th century". But wait! Recently, Kompas began distributing on the iPad, as well. Paperless newpapers. We'll see plenty of that.

But, ever so often, I've heard "reading digital isn't *the same* as holding wood pulp fiber in your hands. True, enough, but what if your "newspaper" was nothing *but* augmented? Blank pages filled with QR codes, ARtags, ect, that are "hot linked" to the distributor's daily issue, or *past issues*. "One paper, to read them all" kind of thing. Instead of buying new paper, every day. You buy a single, heavy-duty "paper". More often than not, news agencies that distribute print also have a web presence. Why not link the two?

The one drawback to this, at the moment, is the lack of affordable HMD's. You can't very well read your newspaper while holding your smartphone, right? Just imagine, for a moment if you will, the above issue of Kompas, while wearing a pair of Vuzix Wrap 920AR's. That might be the game changer. Media producers could minimize their overhead, environmental impact could be reduced, and you could carry the Boston Globe, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, ect, ect, in one "paper", that you never have to "forget" on the commuter rail.

Augmented reality. Better the flowers?

2010-08-13T10:18:00.000-04:00

The people at Elipse have unveiled their new ad for their augmented reality t-shirts. (Yup, "AR as fashion", again) . Check out this video, from their YouTube channel) , and tell me what you think.

Like it? Okay, maybe not the ad, itself, but the product? I know I'd like one. You can customize your own, now, at their website, augmentedrealitytshirt.com . Also, be sure to check out their primary web page for other ar-related products.

Go, and see.

Art, and the vision to apply it, Tensai.

2010-08-13T09:48:00.000-04:00

I've been waiting for this one to be available, because I wanted you to see it. My friend Rodrigo just emailed me, to let me know "It's time". Rodrigo is the co-founder of Tensai, a service offering web design and, (since they're listed here), augmented reality. I've always been a fan of the entrepreneur, and the Team at Tensai has come up with some really relevant ideas.

The one that really impressed me is one of the most practical, and "do-able now" ideas. One of those "why didn't I think of that?" moments. Check out this video, and tell me this wouldn't be something every video store owner should have at their stores:

This idea would have saved me many a bad rental, (and encouraged a few good ones).

This needs to be done, and the Team at Tensai can do it.

You can check out the video at their YouTube page, or just go visit them directly at ARTensai. Available in English and Espanol.So, go check out Tensai, and show them a little love., (and tell them AutumnalDusk sent you).

My best regards to Rodrigo and Team, for their future, and the future of augmented reality.

Go, and see.

i Spy , with my little eye..Spyglass 3.0

2010-08-12T11:57:00.000-04:00

Happymagenta has announced Spyglass 3.0 available for download at the app store.

In this update :Optimized for iPhone 4, 3GS and iPad Wi-Fi + 3G* (iOS 4.x, 3.2.x and 3.1.x), Gyroscope aided compass and improved motion dampening

For those not familiar with the app, here's a demo video (ver 2.2):

As apps like this get more and more refined, there's gonna be less need for a "standalone' gps system.

Go, and see (where you're looking)

Medical Practice. "Put your back into it" with AR.

2010-08-10T16:11:00.000-04:00

"Doctors only practice medicine, because nobody's got it perfect, yet". Okay, maybe that's not *totally* accurate, but you get the idea. Say you need to go in for invasive surgery, you want to make sure the guy (or girl) 'with the knife' knows what they're doing, right? Well, a surgeon has to get practice *somewhere*, and nobody I know wants to be the test dummy.

Fortunately, Haptica, has a spinal surgery simulator, using augmented reality. Think of it as a *really* high tech version of the old classic game "Operation" Unlike a simple video game, this gives the operator a physical sense, as well as visual feedback, in which to hone their skills.

Not that I'd ever want spinal surgery, but if I did, instead of asking "Where did you go to med school?", I could ask "What's your high score on Haptica?"

Unlike the current "question" (asked by Mike Elgan) "Is augmented reality just a cheap gimmick?", this example is solid proof that AR can be practical, useful, (and not require facial recognition), in the here-and-now.

Go, and see.

Be all that you can (augmentedly) be. US Army AR.

2010-08-10T15:45:00.001-04:00

The United States Armed Forces have been creative in enticing young potential recruits to sign up. Not an easy task, considering the ongoing campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Army has been particularly agressive in targeting the video game demographic, using game simulators to "educate and inform" potential recruits of the excitement and flag-waving patriotism of serving in the military. (As a former Marine, I can take a "been there, done that" attitude). I wonder if they'll come up with a "Stand Inspection" simulator, or a "it's time for Field Day!".or at least a multiplayer game of "March in Formation". (I hear the Navy might get a "scrape and paint" simulator...just kidding.

Any potential political landmines aside, let's look at the Army's current offering: Augmented NASCAR, in it's "Race For Strength Challenge" where you can download, print, and "drive" the #39 Ryan Newman car.In partnership with Total Immersion. AT the irl venues, you can try your hand at simulated combat vehicles.

This is also part of the 'mobile market tour', being given by both the US Army and US Air Force.

A shot from within the Air Force's Command Center Alpha,

Semper Fi. Marines play "augmented Reality" with paintball guns.

Go, and "see, all that you can see".

My iQ just exploded...augmentedly.

2010-08-08T17:08:00.001-04:00

The Toyota iQ, (also known, in various configurations, as the Scion iQ, ), is a uber-cute little "smartcar". While we're not a "car blog", we *are* an "AR blog", and aside from the slick iQ feature (be sure to 'click to discover more') on the Toyota site, there is also an AR app to 'take this little beauty for a test spin'. (Gee, I sound like I should be wearing a plaid jacket, and a bad toupee).

It's a fun, (and free) way to play around with AR in the "here and now". As for actually driving an iQ? Well, let's just say I'm tempted. Great salesmanship at work.

Go, and see.

Invizimals-Move over Pokemon.

2010-08-08T16:15:00.000-04:00

Now out for the Sony PSP, (For Europe and Australia), a monster collector game that makes Pokemon look "so last year". Invizimals uses your PSP camera , equipped with a Go!Cam, you can hunt , trap, and battle creatures in Augmented Reality. (Who says you need a smartphone to experience AR?)
Sony isn't new at AR, either. Remember Eye of Judgment? "Oh yeah...that game!" High quality is a Sony tradition, imo, and it seems to hold true here, as well.

Check out this Gamespot video. Sure, the interviewee is awkward, but the video gives you a really good feel for how the game flows..Expected NA release is Q3 2010 (in roughly 50 days).

I like the fact that good AR isn't being confined to "smartphones". Given the power, (and number) of PSP's out there, hooking the young gamers of today is seeding the AR-competent consumers of tomorrow. For as long as there's a market, the technology can only increase, and we all win.

Go, and see.

Pirata Boat Race

2010-08-07T19:57:00.001-04:00

Ahoy, there! I loves me a good piratey-themed game, and this one looks fun. This one takes the augmented reality to an interesting place. First, you download the app to your iPhone/iPad, Then, you go to the game website, and sync your app to the game. To play, you utilize the accelerometers in your phone to "row" your way to viscory. Just think, your umpteen dollar iPhone/iPad can now act as a Wii remote!

Brought to you by piratalondon.com

I think this is a really creative way to use *all* the resources AR can bring to bear.

Sync your camera app to the pc screen ar tags. Genius!

Go, and see.

Visions of the future, in 3D

2010-08-07T16:25:00.000-04:00

ImmesiveTech.org just posted this great video from Keiichi Matsuda, which was recently shown at the London's 3D festival. Why does the video look "off"? Because it's meant to be viewed in 3D, but you get the idea, even without stereoscopic projection, or those funky red-and-blue lenses.

Very reminiscent of the Domestic Robocop video, I had to laugh watching all the little adverts following the guy down the street. Reminded me heavily of Denno Coil. (At least they could be filtered, and don't contribute to global pollution)

imtech will be holding an immersive technology summit, 10-21-10. And while you're at it, be sure to check out some of their videos. Brain Candy stuff, there.

go, and see.

Augmented Sexuality (SFW)

2010-08-06T15:37:00.000-04:00

Title catch your interest? The fact that you're here proves the marketing department correct. *sigh* The "SFW" denotes "Safe For Work", not Shockwave Flash.
Augmented Reality is a visual medium, and more and more it's become a marketing medium. Since "sex sells", both the geeks and the marketing companies raise their cry in unison:"Let there be women!".

Let's face it: being physical creatures, it's only natural that "Human Nature" will permeate everything we do, and the same marketing that drove development of home video, the internet, and late-night "chat lines" will be present in every form of advertising from cave paintings to augmented reality. (And yes, companies like Pink Visual are working on it). Let's take a brief, (and SFW) look at what has been done. Your imagination will naturally "fill in the blanks".

Example 1: Lynx Mynx Magnet

A natural extension of technology brought to you by the "cheeky monkeys" at Lynx, (known for their funny and blatantly suggestive ads, known also by the "Axe" brand), these guys have social demographic targeting down to a near science. The above video is for the "Lynx Mynx Magnet" , where the "Lynx Mynx" denotes their user-voted models, from the "Lynx Lounge After Hours"

Example 2 : Virtual Suzi

"Gawd, I love women with British accents. Especially if they're in full leather. Especially, especially if they know geek tech" Yes, you can have Suzi Perry (presenter from The Gadget Show) in the palm of your hands...as if you wouldn't be eating out of hers, right? You can check her..uh, I mean 'the technology', out HERE.

Example 3:Playboy Magazine

Of course, the world's most famous magazine, (read globally "for the articles" ), would push the marketing envelope, right alongside Esquire, right?

Is this an exhaustive list? Certainly not. And the industry, as always, will push the technological envelope. There's more out there, and there will be ever more to come, unless Human Nature suddenly nullifies itself...and I doubt that's gonna happen.

viZoo HD augmented Reality

2010-08-06T08:02:00.003-04:00

Well, here's a neat video from the company, viZoo. Check out their video (below) and prepare to be impressed. With the combination of real world objects, and seamless virtual ones, the Flare 320 makes for a stunning visual.It's so slick and streamlined, you gotta wonder what makes this "magic box" tick?( hint: Think "smoke and mirrors") Sure, it *looks* like it might be a microwave, but it's High Definition makes you question what is real, and what is rendered..and that's High Art, in my opinion. When you watch it for the first time, see if you can distinguish the real from the augmented, before it becomes obvious.

The Green Hornet AR.

2010-08-06T07:05:00.000-04:00

As part of the advertising release for the upcoming Columbia Pictures release "The Green Hornet", (based on the radio show from the 30's, and the 1966 movie, ), you can experience the "Black Beauty" (GH's version of the Batmobile), at it's own site: experienceblackbeauty.com . You first need to download, print and fold the marker, and let the games begin! With the marker you can watch the trailer, but that's not the fun stuff. The fun is rotating the marker to fire missles, flame throwers, and the Gatling Gun. Suh-weet!

The Marker, minus the marketing.

Let's fire up this bad-boy. Batmobile, move over.

Invisible concrete...well, sort of.

2010-08-06T06:41:00.001-04:00

Wow, miss a few days (camping off the digital grid) and you miss a lot, So, I'll be playing a bit of 'catch up' for the next few posts. Here's a neat little art installation , utilizing the concepts of AR (without a HMD/Smartphone), designed by Daniel Franke and Markus Kison, called "Durchsehen Exp. 01 (augmented perspective)",

Durchsehen Exp. 01 (Docu) from Daniel Franke on Vimeo.

Using a facial-recognition camera that calculates the viewer's angle of perspective, it overlays images (including a "pass through" view, as if one were looking *through* the solid block). Nicely done work. Who would have thought that the first Terminator would be made of concrete?

Go, and see.

The future is wild..and so is the past.

2010-08-01T14:38:00.000-04:00

While stumbling about to absorb as much as possible of consumer AR, I found some related stuff, some new, some "old", all of it augmented. Let's start with the new: The Future is Wild, originally a British tv series for Animal Planet, chronicling speculative anthroplogies/ zoologies of the future.. I've seen the show, and enjoyed it. What I hadn't seen was the AR that has sprung up since.. Augmented reality for education, in the form of a 'living book" and t-shirt.

And the futuroscope theme park, attraction: "Les Animaux du Futur" (this is in 2008 ):

Go, and see.

AR Wave simulator and more

2010-08-01T12:13:00.001-04:00

The below video is from Takehiro Tawara, a Ph.D. in computer science,with a background in computer visualization, using AR to conduct wave simulation.
I know this is for research, but my thought was "wow, that would be an awesomely soothing cubicle toy!"

Beats the heck out of a stress ball, I think.

And check out his video for Interactive Volume Segemntation, it strikes me as "MRI analysis of the future":

This is your brain. This is your brain on AR. Any questions?

Go, and see.

See a streak on facebook.

2010-07-30T12:52:00.000-04:00

No, not *that* kind of streak. I mean, this isn't that kind of blog. The Dell Streak, a 5 inch screen Android smartphone, now has a facebook app that can let you see what one of these would look like, in your hot little hands. Since I have to see things, (and share them with you), here's the vid:

It's a simple ARTag, with basic ar. And it's on Facebook (Hey, speaking of good ol' FB, why not 'like' us on our Facebook Page, and get your updates, as they happen? ( /shameless plug))

So, what's the big deal about a 5 inch screen? Check out this Engadget review for more.And, this Cnet Phone Reviews video :

It's definitely a big <phone/tablet>?, But I don't think the AR element is used to it's full potential. Certainly not the kind of effort I'd expect from Dell. Maybe they're just testing the AR waters. Anyways, it's there, it's free, and now you know.

Go, and see.

Monster Media & Limited Space- a powerful combo.

2010-07-30T11:07:00.003-04:00

While many of us , (here in the USA) may not have heard of them, it seems the good folks in the U.K. (yeah, U.K...again with the augmentation) Monster Media and Limited Space have entered a partnership, promising an impressive array of visual options for heretofore empty wall spaces. "Out with the old, in with the bold."

Static pictures just do not do this advertising medium justice. Want your daily dose of "Wow!"? Check out the Monster Media Demo Reel: "Mum, I'm going to the mall, to play some games". "There's no arcade, there" "Don't need one, I'm gonna go play with the adverts." Static advertisers would KILL for this kind of ad attention. (Note the number of people who engage with the ads)

Coming soon to a mall near you...if you live in the U.K., that is.

"Curse you, U.K., and your crumpets, we have cookies!"

Press Release:

LONDON--(Marketwire - July 30, 2010) - Companies now have a better way to reach their target audience and engage consumers on a whole new level, due to a recent partnership agreement between two local media companies.
Monster Media, the global leader of out-of-home interactive advertising, has teamed up with Limited Space, the leading supplier of media in premium UK shopping malls, to rollout their interactive technology in premium malls across the UK.
These interactive "billboards" will transform Limited Spaces' network of giant digital sites into cutting edge dynamic displays that offer clients endless possibilities, such as: gestural interaction, multi-touch interaction, augmented reality and mobile phone interaction where your mobile actually controls the ad.
"We are thrilled to have a long-term, exclusive contract with Limited Space and are looking forward to placing our interactive technology in their malls throughout the UK," said David McKie, managing director of Monster Media UK. "Monster Media already has a strong presence in upscale malls throughout the globe and this new partnership is a natural and major step in our strategy to aggressively expand our presence throughout the UK."
McKie says they will be installing their one-of-a-kind engaging displays in the 15 flagship malls within the Limited Space network, including: The Bullring, The Metro Centre, Cabot Circus, Highcross and Bluewater.
"We were looking for an out-of-home partner that is constantly reinventing themselves and pushing the envelope, and that is what pulled us strongly towards Monster Media," said Matt Gordon, owner of Limited Space. "We are both the leaders in our respective fields and I have no doubt that this partnership will increase the effectiveness and success of both companies."
Recent Limited Space campaigns include: BMW, THQ, Paramount, P&G, Cadburys, Sega, Adidas, Peugeot, Orange and T-Mobile.
Monster Media's current client list includes: Microsoft, Nintendo, Warner Bros Films, IBM, JP Morgan Chase, Coca-Cola, YouTube, Anheuser Busch, McDonalds, Kraft, CoverGirl and many more.
Monster Media's UK operation is based in Queens Park, London, but also has roots around the globe including: US, UK, Canada, Europe and South Africa.
About the company:
Monster Media remains the leader of advertising that responds to consumers' body movements and storefront domination programs. Their ability to deliver quality programs and customer service has allowed them to expand their presence across the globe with network applications including: storefront dominations, mass transit, airports, sport and entertainment venues and custom events. Since its inception in 2003, Monster Media has executed nearly 300 storefront ads globally and worked with clients such as HBO, Lexus, Target, Microsoft, MTV and Timberland to bring their messages to life. All campaigns are monitored and maintained around the clock by Monster Media. For more information on Monster Media, please go to: www.monstermedia.net.

Iron Man 2 -looking foward by looking back.

2010-07-30T09:12:00.004-04:00

Not new, (came out in April), but it's a slow news day, but we haven't at least glossed over it, so we'll give the Iron Man 2 AR a little love. Hopefully, you've seen the movie, so the visuals will make sense.This is less about the product and more about the art of it all.
Take this video, for example. While the augmented helmet is a fun little app, take a thoughtful look at the 'heads up' simulation:

Although it's "just" high budget viral marketing, (like Stark Expo 2010 ), some of the visuals presented represent a pretty solid artistic view of augmented reality, as it may (eventually) be incorporated. Give me a pair of Vuzix Wrap920AR's, and a HUD app like that, and I'll be a happy witch. But the vision extends past the theoretical product, and even visualizes the theoretical advertising. Take thes (fake) ads, for example, (and tell me the 'cordco' tab doesn't smack of TED talks) :

Tell me you won't see advertising like this, one AR becomes "mainstream" for the masses. You betcha, you will. Even though it's all fictional at the moment, ( remember, 'men on the moon' was once fictional), I think the visual representation, (of the visual representation) may be a driving factor. Like the oft-mentioned "minority report interface", which has become more real HERE and HERE, or like the Old Star Trek Tri-corders (iPhone, anyone?), the fictional tech of yesterday becomes the 'everyday' tech of tommorow.

Although I doubt we'll have flying combat suits anytime soon, the slicker, data-rich augmented reality views of IronMan 2 are much more feasible, and honestly quite appealing.

And be sure to check out the LG Iron Man app site. for the LG Ally and it's Android 2.1 apps

(video, courtesy Total Immersion/ D'Fusion)

Let's not forget to put the art in AR.

Go, and see.

Total Immersion-HIRING

2010-07-29T16:34:00.001-04:00

This is hot. Not so much " AR news", as an awesome opportunity. "Fortune favors the bold", and this is THE company for AR. (and hey, if you get the job, let's not forget your friends at c0dehex, huh? ) On a "less-than-altruistic" note, If I qualified, I wouldn't post this, but I'd be too busy applying.

TOTAL IMMERSION is HIRING

We are currently looking for Los Angeles-based Contractor engineers who are proficient in C++, Java, or Lua scripting to learn additional skills in our proprietary software platform (D’Fusion) in order to perform contract work for Total Immersion.
We will pay to train experienced C++, Java, or Lua programmers for 2 days on our exciting AR technology. The pay rate for the two-day training will be $100/day. The training will take place on Tuesday, August 17^th and Wednesday, August 18th.
Once trained, TI services team will identify opportunities for you to work on-site on specific projects on a Contractor basis. Salary DOE.
The ideal candidate will:

Have 1-3 years of game developer experience preferred.
Have experience with 3D and 2D (preferred.)
Have experience with Lua, C++ or Java. Ogre experience also a plus.
Understanding of real time video formats and aspect ratios
Work with Design and Engineering team to create the best solutions to quickly integrate our software on the customer end.
React to design changes quickly with support for new or changed features.

****CANDIDATE MUST HAVE LEGAL ABILTY TO WORK IN US.
****CANDIDATE MUST BE AVAILABLE TO ATTEND TRAINING ON Tuesday, August 17^th and Wednesday, August 18^th IN LOS ANGELES in order to be considered for the position.
****CANDIDATE MUST BE LOCAL LOS ANGELES AREA RESIDENT
If interested, please submit your resume and cover letter to melissa.mcmanigal@t-immersion.com

Parrot AR drone now for pre-order.

2010-07-29T12:57:00.000-04:00

For those who have been haven't been following, the Parrot AR Drone quadricopter, a wi-fi controlled flying vehicle with multiple cameras is now available for pre-order via Brookstone. ($300)
Normally, this kind of device would fall more into the 'telepresence' category, but it does have augmented reality features, in the form of AR games.

Here's a smaple of the Augmented Gaming:

Want to see how cluttered you gutters are? Now you can, without the ladder. This thing has as much tech as a new smartphone. Accelerometers, gyrometers, *2* cameras, sonar, and an ARM9 processor.

It's a "fun" little device, that you can control with your iPhone , iPod Touch, or iPad. And it's a helluvalot less expensive than buying a Draganfly. And you can co-op with multiple players.

Don't have the $300? You can try to win one (until 31 December 2010 ), at the uber-slick Pilot Test site.

Either way, you'll be seeing these around. SkyNet, anyone?

Go, and see.

The Scrying Game- July, 2010

2010-07-28T13:41:00.002-04:00

Well, I haven't used any "witchy magic" metaphors, lately, so I figured I'd throw it in for what will be the first of a monthy review of "The State of Consumer Ready" Augmented Reality. It's not based on any hard-numbers, (although c0dehex does have a Pro Analyst on the team...more later). It's based of web developments over the past 30 days.

Yes, I know the first "30 day" review dates back further than this tender young blog, but we have to start somewhere, right?

Based on July's articles, here's the list of who/what to keep an eye on. There's plenty of "movers and shakers", but these are the ones that stand out.

Tech Trend:Tagless AR. Sigh, although we'll see QR codes, and proprietary ARTags, the future belongs to tagless. If anything, for a while, products will continue to use ar tags to alert users about ar content, or QR code their web address of download URL, we'll (overall) see less black-and white MRC, and more picture based AR.

The Big Dog : Total Immersion

Total Immersion, with their D'Fusion technology, proven consumer-ready marketplace products, tagless ar, and impressive client list, are sitting at the top..at least for the moment. Having experienced their Avatar iTag and 7-Eleven/WWE augmented Rey Mysterio mask firsthand. I can firmly state that TI, if they keep their momentum, will stay on top for the forseeable future.

"The" Browser/ Techs: Layar

The Layar Browser has become almost the "default" ar browser.

With it's ever expanding apps and implementation , Layar is firmly planted, providing intuitive user experiences.

Hottest contender: Metaio. Utilizing Junaio Glue, this tagless tech , if embraced could become "the adobe flash" of ar browsers. Even Adobe has big news, but imo, they're arriving to the party, a bit late.

Most Augmented Country: The U.K.

Yup. Home of tea and crumpets. Maybe it's all the rain, that keeps them indoors, coding a rainless augmented reality. Recent Augmented Reality for the United Kingdom include Cassette Playa's AR fashion show, Conspiracy for Good, and Museum of London's StreetMuseum, ( to name a few)

Smartphone Wars: Droid X.

Yup, giving this one to Droid, atm. (no blatant favoritism, here). With the iPhone's market dominance you'd think this one would be easy, but their recent bungles,and Droid X's recent sellout, I'm leaning towards droid, and the growing droid market, for both phones and apps.

Hottest contender : Samsung Galaxy S. The Force is strong, in this one.

"WOW Item of the month: Toxin Labs Augmented Business Cards.

This was a tough call. A lot of "New", "now" and "wow" to cover, so it's about lasting impressions, and I think out of all that came this way, the AR business cards are the one that sit on top of my "Wow, *have* to get one of those" list.

Where do we go from here? Time is the revealer of all truths.

Go, and see.

Deadliest Catch, Discovery Channel AR .

2010-07-28T11:12:00.001-04:00

Discovery Channel has a new print ad game, powered by Total Immersion's D'Fusion. This game is to help promote the season finale of Deadliest Catch, a reality show chronicling several Alaskan crab fishing ships in their dangerous annual harvest.

Using just the tagless print ad (found in varied magazines), users navigate the "Big Catch" vessel through the waves, trying to catch 20 pots in 2 minutes. All user control is from rotating/tilting the print ad. .

Go, and see.

The Audi "carless" (AR) Car calendar. (video)

2010-07-27T12:47:00.003-04:00

This news isn't "uber fresh", but worth passing along., I've read about this, but couldn't find anything "re-broadcast worthy", until now. The Audi Augmented Reality car calendar...in video. We all know car enthusiasts *love* their particular brands, right? You can always find a car calendar somewhere, but not like this one. Audi has taken the next step: A car calendar without cars.

To view the cars, you download an iPhone app, and hold it up to the background images, and the Audi(s) come to life.

Now, how practical is this? Are you really going to fire up your smartphone, everytime you want to check the calendar? Probably not. But for an AR enthusiast, or an Audi enthusiast, this will definitely be a historic collector's item.

Just a little something to while away your time.

Go, and see.

Everything is bigger in....Brazil?!?

2010-07-27T08:32:00.000-04:00

This is just plain cool. With augmented reality, the size of an object is not restricted by the conventional laws of physics. No worries about mass, gravity, aerodynamics, ect. You can make an object as big (or small) as you like. Want a dragon in the palm of your hand? No problem. Want something a little bigger? We can do that, too. Well, here's a shot, from a helicopter, of Brazil. I have never been to Brazil. I have friends that have. I hear it's nice. Now, thanks to AR, I've seen things that they haven't. Take a look:

Just another beautiful day in Brazil.

But wait! "One of these things is not like the other". Can you find it? I couldn't.

Yeah, the entire building does not exist. It's augmented.

Don't believe me? I don't blame you. Check this out:

The Fibrasa Connection was recently awarded Guiness World Record status for world's largest augmented reality marker. Viva, Brazil! This is a visualization system for urban planning, helping to visualize the "finished product" before ground is even broken.

source: bdonline.co.uk

Go, and see.

Augmented Sevenfold- Revolver Magazine

2010-07-26T16:24:00.000-04:00

Revolver Magazine, the hard-hitting publication covering rock music, will be releasing a special QR-coded Collector's Edition magazing July 27th, in conjunction with Avenged Sevenfold's new album, "Nightmare".

The issue(s) (several variations) feature bonus content (pictures, music, video) encoded by the Australian company, QMCODES.Check out your local retailer.

In depth article at California Chronicle.

Go, and see.

AR is Mysterio...us?

2010-07-26T15:54:00.000-04:00

As part of the ongoing Slurpee nation , 7 Eleven has new WWE branded cups, which, when bought, can be redeemed for points. If that's all there was to it, we wouldn't cover it here, right? Right. So, there's got to be an AR catch in there, somewhere.

And there is: an augmented reality download, (tagless) , powered by Total Immersion's d'fusion . It works really good, tracking your face, via your webcam, and overlays a Rey Mysterio mask, keeping track of your head movements.

The download costs 5 "points" (which is equivalent to a single cup purchase)

I've tried it, and it works good, (an no, I'm not posting pics. Just trust me, it works well.)

It's fun, inexpensive, and a great expos'e on ar. Go try it!

Go, and see.

The One that got away...CATCH.

2010-07-26T14:59:00.000-04:00

Got fish?

Recently, the Nova Scotia Seafood Festival came up with an interactive, Augmented Reality promo for their annual expo on local seafood and culinary trends. Their AR contest featured a cute fish avatar that appeared on the user's screen, encouraging participation , and pointing them not only to the event itself, but the event's facebook page. According to the event's youtube video, the AR "instant win" promo helped garner loads of new visitors, and I have no problem believing that. Brand exposure was pervasive, without (imo) being intrusive. I know I'll remember it, and that's the sign of a good ad.Here's the vid from the event:

I never thought I'd think a fish would be 'cute', but there you go.

Go, and see.

Time Out New York’s Augmented Reality Cover Kid's Mag

2010-07-26T12:46:00.000-04:00

TimeOut New York Kids, a magazine targeting the younger demographic, has launched it's own AR-augmented magazine cover (in the same fashion as the Esquire AR).The AR uses the Juniao Browser to connect you with a video of the Webby Award winning PS22 Chorus.

It's a great way to add a bit extra to print media. Kinda makes me want to sing, too. But that is something I'll spare you from. ;)

If you want to try it yourself, you can download the cover art HERE.

Go, and see.

Augmented Business Cards, nicely done.

2010-07-25T16:20:00.000-04:00

We've seen some early AR business cards in the past, but I just stumbled across this one, and was left *very* impressed:

(You can check out the Development log HERE)

Augmented Business Card from jonas on Vimeo.

From augmentedbusinesscards.net

In my humble opinion, this is how AR business cards should be done. Interactive, very slick, very professional, and very data-rich. You can use the card to launch contact via top social media sites, like Twitter.

Go, and see.

Up from the depths...Godzilla!

2010-07-25T14:13:00.002-04:00

...of ComiCon, this neat new Godzilla shirt, complete with AR tag. Yup, AR as fashion:

Notice the design of the AR tag? It seem that Legendary Pictures is working on a new Godzilla movie. Talking Dog Studios had a hand in this shirt , and the active element of the shirt looks like this:

If you're not at ComiCon, but still want to experience the shirt, you can download the picture HERE, and demo it HERE.

Go, and see.

Advertising as a game metaphor

2010-07-23T10:25:00.000-04:00

British Telecom company "o2" has released a free augmented reality app to increase it's brand awareness , following in the wake of it's Facebook game. These "niggles" are all broadband connectivity issues, personified. (Think Saatchi for Denno Coil) .
Remember, all these Seuss-like creatures are anthropomorphic representations of all the technical (and human) issues we deal with in our dail connectivity.

"Niggles are all around you. They're where you live, where you work, they're on the streets, in the parks, they're everywhere you go. By downloading the free augmented reality iPhone app, the first app of its kind, you can help O2 nobble broadband niggles wherever you are."

The iPhone game completely immerses the player in a fun, unique and unexpected way. Using the phone compass and GPS we could plot the players postion. Then when they held up their phone they could see the niggles lurking around them Augmented Reality using the phones camera. "

The AR app lets you roam around (the U.K.), interracting with these whimsical characters.

And here's the app "in play":

The Great Niggle Nobble iPhone game walkthrough from Agency Republic on Vimeo.

It seems to me that the U.K. is fast becoming the "Tokyo of Augmented Reality". More often than not, "if it's ar, it can be traced to the U.K.". Hear that, "other countries"? Step up your game.

go, and see.

ARagorn's Quest augmented reality contest

2010-07-22T08:28:00.001-04:00

To promote the release of Aragorn's Quest, a console game focusing on the Tolkien's famous Middle Earth King of Gondor, there is an augmented reality video contest
(click the link for the AR demo)

Participants need only print out a AR tag, and video themselves utilizing the AR fireball to be entered for a plethora of prizes. Contest ends September 28th.

Although there is no augmented reality in the game itself, this is yet another example of creative, and interactive advertising using AR as a "gee whiz" technology to garner interest. (And hey, the game looks pretty good, too.)

Will we see more AR utilization in the future? You bet.

Go, and see.

Coming soon, to a wallet near you

2010-07-21T16:06:00.001-04:00

Z-Card, makers of the the unique pocket media card that unfolds like road-map origami, has announced a partnership with Total Immersion to provide augmented reality in it's products.

Given the amount of data a single z-card could hold (in barcode, QR, or semacode) there's a lot one could do with one, given the right vision.

"AR and 2D codes more than bridge the gap between print and digital – they offer a synergy with measurability and interactivity," said Z-Card managing director Liz Love. "Print and digital together can deliver tenfold on the results individually."

Z-Card’s pocket planner for the Cannes Lions Advertising Festival last month featured a QR Code that registered a 5% follow up from delegates. The firm was able to track what country the visitors came from and what mobile phone they were using

Full article at printweek.com

go, and see.

Oh, Brother. The AirScouter

2010-07-21T10:39:00.002-04:00

Coming to you from Japan...eventually, the ( protoype) Brother AirScouter, a retinal scanning HMD for AR applications.

Although, in in trying to research this, I found another HMD to watch: The Kopin Golden-i :

Here's the video from the SlashGear review:

Pricing on these units are still a bit hefty, (and I'm holding out on a Vuzix Wrap 920AR) . Time, and marketing, will tell.

Go, and see.

The future of shopping

2010-07-21T08:16:00.000-04:00

Well, this bodes well of the future of AR: Intel recently demonstrated (at ICES) it's digital signage, which featured augmented reality glass pane, reqiring no hardware from the user's end. Check this out:

Pretty neat, huh? It's part of Intel's "connected store" strategy, where you and I may not be the market, but the end-user. Here's the concept, in brief:

You can expect to see more of this kind of technology in the fututre, as the battle for your retail purchases escalates.

Thanks to AR Newsroom and SmartPlanet for the tip.

Go, and see.

MS's Bing Maps, Augmented

2010-07-20T12:23:00.000-04:00

From Ted Talks 2010. I had almost forgot about this video, but the previous post brought it to mind. In this video, they demonstrate *real time* video overlay augmentation, an ability which is nothing to sneeze at. Microsoft Bing Augmented mapping.

Go, and see.

Let's do the Time Warp again

2010-07-20T12:02:00.000-04:00

The vennerable Museum of London has a cool new app of it's own : Streetmuseum. This cool geospatial app allows you to look back in time, as you stroll London's streets, seeing a locale "as it was", via 200+ archived images, some dating back as far as 1666.

This app is Free. Yup, this is about education, and perspective windows, frozen in time, overlaid in the 'here and now'.

This app is kinda cool, in a couple ways, to me. First of all, it's about education, not commerce. Ever wonder who Emmeline Pankhurst was? What it looked like seeing her hauled away from Buckingham Palace? You can stand in the actual spot where the image was taken, and it will overlay in a kinda phantasmal window frozen in time.

Or, how about a music festival in Hyde Park, circa 1970? (Pink Floyd?)

I,. myself , think this is a great way of implementing historical documentary into AR. I'd like to see more.

Original article at Metro

Go, and see..

An Augmented Stone gathers no moss.

2010-07-19T15:22:00.002-04:00

“You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you might find, you get what you need”...do you want it/need it in digital? Yup.

The Rolling Stones have a new App out. "Exile on your street"

Using the Layar browser (quickly becoming the 'default' browser of AR) , you can now been your own Augmented Street Team, posting augmented posters, (and music tracks) from TRS, Available from both the website and via a Facebook App, for your 3Gs IPhone, iPhone4, and Droid Smartphones.

If The Stones are doing Augmented Reality, then AR just got a helluvalot 'cooler'. Now, if Aerosmith got in to counter this....sorry, just have to 'vote up' the Home Team.

Thanks to InventorSpot for the tip!

This is just the start, my friends. The tsunami is building.

Go, and see.

Conspiracy for Good

2010-07-19T14:10:00.002-04:00

Brought to you by Tim Kring (of Heroes fame) , and the Nokia X6 , Conspiracy for Good looks to be one heck of an adventure, albeit limited in participation by geographic restraints.

It's an advanced experiment in interactive storytelling, with real-world implications for assisting irl causes, blurring the line between what is "real", and what is possible.

A few years ago I started thinking about an entirely new way to tell a story, far different from traditional TV. I didn’t just want to talk about “saving the world” in fiction, I wanted to create a narrative that spilled out into the streets. One that you could live inside of for a while. How cool would it be, I thought, to create a story that exists all around you all of the time? — On your laptop, your mobile phone, on your sidewalks, as a secret message hidden in your favorite song or while standing at the bus stop on your way to work.

A few years ago I started thinking about an entirely new way to tell a story, far different from traditional TV. I didn’t just want to talk about “saving the world” in fiction, I wanted to create a narrative that spilled out into the streets. One that you could live inside of for a while. How cool would it be, I thought, to create a story that exists all around you all of the time? — On your laptop, your mobile phone, on your sidewalks, as a secret message hidden in your favorite song or while standing at the bus stop on your way to work.

Read more about Conspiracy For Good by http://www.conspiracyforgood.com/aboutA few years ago I started thinking about an entirely new way to tell a story, far different from traditional TV. I didn’t just want to talk about “saving the world” in fiction, I wanted to create a narrative that spilled out into the streets. One that you could live inside of for a while. How cool would it be, I thought, to create a story that exists all around you all of the time? — On your laptop, your mobile phone, on your sidewalks, as a secret message hidden in your favorite song or while standing at the bus stop on your way to work.

Read more about Conspiracy For Good by http://www.conspiracyforgood.com/aboutI personally love the idea. Ghandi said "be the change you want to see in the world" , and by using augmented reality, and social participation, one could argue, philosophically, at least, that the adventure *is* real. It's always been my belief that our (collective) "reality" is nothing more than where our individual "realities" intersect. By taking what is basically a flash mob, combining it with (very) interactive storytelling, (including apps ), Tim has produced an augmented story that potentially benefits the physical sphere which we all share.

Who's to say that the villain "isn't real"? Where "truth" depends on your perception, the CfG villian is no less real than you are. What will you do about it, if anything?

I will be watching this experiment with keen interest...and a burning itch to go to London.

Go, and see.
Stay Augmented

Sky Seige, Android AR

2010-07-17T18:53:00.000-04:00

Well, maybe you can't get your Droid X, just yet, but at least you can play Sky Siege, an AR FPS sim for all android-compatable smartphones, from Simbiotics.

And, if you score high enough, you can unlock a special "helicopter" mode.

sample graphic from simbiotics page

Go, and see.

Putting the Art in AR. ART+COM

2010-07-17T15:06:00.003-04:00

Let's take a moment, if we may, to back up from the pure tech aspect of Augmented Reality, and look at it from the artistic side. We know AR is likely to be around a while, but do we want it to all be "talk bubbles"? Of course not. To give the Digital Art Layer a more concrete permanence (ironic, I know), we can't forget to add art to the augmented layer.

To that end, if you don't know him/them already, I'd like to introduce you to Joachim Sauter , the Founder and Director of Design at Art+Com, a design house for interactive media. They have some visually stunning projects going on.

The video from The Creators Project must be seen to truly appreciate the art.

From The Independent: "His work covers everything from technologies including augmented reality, (dinosaurs in the Berlin’s Natural History Museum becoming digitally fleshed out through the use of cameras and 3D modelling software), to mixtures of digital and physical reactions; one of the most impressive of his examples was a Tokyo installation in which the footprints of participants go from ripples of LED lights to physical waves on a nearby water feature. Much of it has to be seen to be believed (perhaps proving his point), but the central argument of much of work is the same: that we’re in the midst of a digitally-enabled ‘renaissance of the space’, as the talk was titled."

It's my personal hope that the creativity and ideas, such as fostered at ART+COM do indeed filer over to the Augmented Layer in AR, because AR serves as a potentially explosive art medium, given the chance. Yes, AR needs it's technicians, (artists of another sort, really), but who will paint the unseen?

Go, and see.

Hoopla for Hoppola!

2010-07-16T18:22:00.002-04:00

Now Here's an idea that will get you digital graffiti artists salivating: Hoppola! First, of course, "the vid":

Well, it certainly looks easy, huh? with no software download, Layar integration, and simple interface you can augment the actual spot where "Harry met Sally ", our "Our first Kiss", or "Joe X got dumped here" . Just imagine, the legions of Layar 'developers' could outnumber those on MySpace and Facebook..oh. wait a minute. Maybe that's a bit *too* accessible. Again, the need, in advance, for an "AR Filter"

"HOPPALA! Augmentation provides an easy way for non-technical creatives to start experimenting with augmented reality and Layar. Create your own augmented reality experiences with just some mouse clicks and publish your work at Layar, the world‘s largest augmented reality platform."

Define "non-technical creatives", plox. "I iz l33t enuf 4 Layar.". *shudder*

Full article at Wired.

Go, and see.

X marks the spot...on the empty shelf.

2010-07-16T16:48:00.001-04:00

In bittersweet news today, the awaited Droid X from Verizon sold right the heck out. Yay for the brand, and for the competitive feild of open source smartphones. Boo, if you just *had* to get one NOW.

According to Android Central,
"And just as we figured, stores have mostly sold out, and Verizon's website now has the badge the Droid Incredible hopefuls have come to know all too well -- the Droid X is now labeled as "Will be shipped by 7/23." (Note that it says "by" and not "on," m'kay?) Hopefully we won't see that date march steadily backward like we have the on the DInc."

Says Verizon
"This has been a very good day one for Droid X sales. Customers were in line at midnight in some markets, in other places there were lines when the stores opened and in other stores there has been a steady stream of customers. We have been successful at keeping up with early demand but at present inventory in some parts of the country inventory is either low or out. (It truly varies around the country.) Since we have weekly shipments planned, customers can still order phones and can expect them to be shipped on or before July 23. This link shows you some of the excitement from midnight in Columbia, MD."

As for me, I likka-to-see iPhone not getting each and every bit of smartphone spotlight, ( and their antenna issue response by the execs just makes the corporation look that much worse). I'm no Verizon fan, but I am a Droid fan... more specifically, an "open source" fan.

go, and see.

Moovision, and the future of digital clutter

2010-07-16T09:47:00.003-04:00

Well, it's been out for "a while", now, Ben&Jerry's , the Ice Cream brand with the granola-crunchy, tree-huggy , greener-earth, fair-for-everyone appeal, has released "Moovision", in their Augmented Reality app for iPhone, "Scoop of Happiness". If you want, you can read about it here. (And of course, being a videophile, I have to post a demo of it, too):

Moo Vision

Now, don't get me wrong, I like Ben and Jerry's. I remember going to Vermont, to the B&J factory, and trying to share a "Vermonster" with my siblings in place of lunch...(we failed to finish it). I support their methodologies, and their ethics, and it's why I chose them for this piece, to soften my criticism of the near inevitable influx of "AR for the sake of AR". I can't help but be reminded of this video. Come to think of it, we need to have a "Spam" filter in AR's future. "Add company x to my AR block list".

Already, we've seen AR as the newest gimmick in advertising. ARTags, markerless AR (like Juniao's Glue). I have the "AR Edition" of Esquire,(which told me I needed a better video card), a handful of Avatar iTags,(which work just fine), ect. Advertisers are blazing the trail for AR..and I fret about the direction, and it's implications.

Now, I know, "Hey, they paid for it, they should get what they want", which is fine. At the very least it will help distribute a more common awareness of AR in the general public (of whom which is still generally unaware). Problem is, is all they see AR as is an advertising medium, or a virtual game medium, or even a 'geek toy' medium, then the future and scope of AR is going to be really limited.

There are plenty of apps out there, but few, (if any) have risen to become the "must have" app. The Internet was a much quieter place before the "WWW" App came out. Again, it comes to standardization, and there's plenty of 'industry changing' changes coming down the virtual pipe, but right now, you may as well point your AR browser around, and view the Wild Augmented West. "Hey, look, those two browsers are having a dual at high noon!".

I suppose that with a greater influx of smartphones..(and not just the iPhone).. and agreement of the different archmages on a common set of parameters, when the dust settles, we can get a unified 'baseline' for AR, and develop from there. If AR becomes a "product x is the new product a", consumers will tire quickly, and move on to whatever shiny pixels the advertisers send at them next. And, with the general attention span of Mr. And Mrs. Average Consumer being what it is, it's about time someone really gets their interest, and educate them.

Since AR is (generally) a "view only" experience ( AR will never take out your trash, or wash your dishes) without the inclusion of telepresence or robotics, developers should take heed, else this technology will just be the next best way to watch Hulu " on the go", and we can already do that.

Eco Friendly AR Water Bottles

2010-07-15T16:44:00.001-04:00

Greensender.com is now marketing customizable AR-marked water bottles with it's 3DBottle product.

The new 3DBottle from Greensender

Following the rising trend with Home Depot and Atomic Greetings, these water bottles feature an AR tag that will display a user-defined video, (this one in a pop-up drive in theater).They also have a downloadable .pdf and test marker to let you 'try before you buy". Soon enough, we'll have ARTag keychains, coffee mugs, and any other swag you can slap an tag on. I like this idea. The more portable, everyday objects I can carry around are that many more personal videos I can view, or show off, at whim.

From the website:

"3DBottles are a Greensender original product that uses a new technology called Augmented Reality to bring a new level of fun to your reusable water bottle. Enjoy the surprise every time you show it off to someone new. And keep it fresh by uploading a new video at any time at no additional cost to you. Let this personalized, custom laser-engraved bottle serve as your mini screening room throughout the year for your favorite home videos."

Thanks to ChipChick for the tip!

go, and see.

AR! There be pirates, mate,

2010-07-15T08:08:00.001-04:00

Thanks to Optricks Media , Ltd, Those of you with Nokia, Sony-Ericsson and Samsung Smartphones running Symbian OS can now let the lead fly, anywhere, at any scale. AR! Pirates. :

"Use your phone’s camera and screen to shoot and sink virtual ships that appear integrated to the real world via augmented reality. (Ed: But there's no Johnny Depp....) Play at any scale! Use coins as markers for small ships on your desk or play with gigantic ships in the park using three flying discs (or paper plates from your picnic lunch). But be careful–the larger the markers, the more active you have to be when playing the game!"

Thanks to Augmented Planet for the tip.

Go, and see.
FS6DGN97AAG3

Augmented cards.

2010-07-14T10:40:00.001-04:00

Hot on the heels of the Home Depot Gift cards, Atomic Greetings has personalized greeting cards, enhanced with user-defined video. Videos for making, (and viewing a card can be found at AG's YouTube channel HERE )

Atomic Greetings EVX marker sample

Read the full article at Augmented Planet.

Go, and see.
Stay Augmented

It'sa meee...mARio.!

2010-07-14T08:37:00.001-04:00

Okay, had to add this, 'cuz it's just so cool. Andreas Heikaus, a student at the Hannover University of Applied Science and Art has come up with a really neat presentation, using the cinema technique of "Match Moving" has brought Old Skool to the Great Outdoors, in a very visually compelling way.

Super Mario Bros. from Andreas Heikaus on Vimeo.

Says Andreas "This video was part of my Bachelor thesis at the University of Applied science and art Hannover. The Super Mario Bros. game, released on the Nintendo Entertainment System, is not longer bound to the television size and get interactive with a new environment. The emphasis of my thesis is on the matchmoving work. It is the process of matching CG elements into live-action footage."

Althoug I'd hesitate to call it "true AR", it's a darn impressive piece of work, and could easily be confused for high-end AR. (and it's fun to watch). Nicely done, Andreas!

Sekai Camera for Android

2010-07-14T08:26:00.000-04:00

Tonchidot has released Sekai Camera ver 2.4.1 . and released a version for Android (v2.1) with Android-specific features.They even released a version for the (cameraless) iPad. In March, they released their "Open Air" API.

Also, there will be a series of apps designed to work within the Sekai Camera 'ecosystem', including it's premier title "Ka-Boom" (below).

The company is planning web-based access to it's air tags, and is mulling ideas for offices in Singapore and the U.S.

In-depth article at Tech Crunch.

Go, and see.

MIT=WIN.

2010-07-13T09:14:00.004-04:00

Yeah, gotta love the "Home Team" Those crazy kids and their tech development.

Only in the student-culture of a tech campus could you come up with cheap, effective solutions, regardless of how funky it looks. Despite the plethora of wired data glove, the peeps at M.I.T. have done it again, more specifically, Graduate student Robert Wang (at MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab (CSAIL) ) has come up with a cheap, easily-implementable, and all-too-Partridge-family-meets-Ringling's look: Color Gloves:

Okay, they're so funky looking, they are pretty.

Camera-identified glove(s). "Why didn't I think of that?"

(because I'm not a starving Graduate Student, I guess)

Add a Vuzix Wrap920AR, and 'bingo'.

Yeah. If/when these come to market, I'd *so* get a pair. (but, um, guys, can you make them in grayscale?)
I understand that the color schema is an important part of it all, but I was (ideally) looking for somkething like these theoretical gloves:

Rendered 'IT Manager' gloves from 2create. drooool.

Go, and see.

Stay Augmented.

Augmented Twitter, and the future of Social Media

2010-07-11T01:18:00.001-04:00

Yup, as if that little 140 character text box wasn't enough for the vexing the verbose, Twitter , as well as many other 'social media' apps, will be augmented in the future (if they're not already, like Twitter 360).See the future, (both promise and pitfall), in this video "conversation with three futurists" from Jeff Pulver’s 140 Characters Conference (#140Conf), from April, 2010, (remember "back then", when Iceland had a volcano erupting?) It's 'dated', sure (by internet standards), but it offers a fascinating look into the minds that are focused on the direction Social Media is going.

Like I said, this is not "current news", per se, but it's also a good indication of how AR is "already out there", and accessible by you, in the here-and-now. Not everything AR has to be super-high-end, wiz-bang animation. It can also be practical and seamless in our daily usage.And it should be, if it's going to leave it's mark on Mr. and Mrs. Average Consumer.

And no, there's no way I could condense that to 140 characters.
Go, and see.
Stay Augmented

"When you wish upon a stAR..."

2010-07-10T23:01:00.007-04:00

"Makes no difference who you are." That is, of course, *if* you're at a Disney Theme Park, have an iPhone, and Disney's new app: Wishing Stars.

Now, the Magical Kingdom has a Digital layer. Hunt for clues, and quest your way across the Kingdom (and even in waiting lines ), Here's a video review from The Orange County Register write up:

Now you can pretend you're playing a U.S. version of Kingdom Hearts Mobile irl.(okay, maybe not)

"The hidden "Wishing Stars" are recorded as secret GPS coordinates that your iPhone will uncover during your search. Clues lead to more clues, which lead to discovery of the Wishing Stars. Along the way, you'll unlock more Quests that will test your knowledge of Disneyland to its limit!"

This is a great example of Mobile AR, and creating connected geospatial digital content.
Thanks to Gamepocalypse Now for the tip!

Go, and see.

Stay Augmented.

Adobe throws it's hat into the ring

2010-07-10T21:43:00.001-04:00

BIG news, on this one. Software, and internet behemoth Adobe, archmages of such 'little' things as flash, shockwave and the ubiquitous.PDF file, have announced the future of flash...and yes, it's 3D. The announcement is a teaser, of sorts, since full details won't come out until Adobe MAX 2010. Oct 23-27, in Los Angeles. but a recent blog post by Thibault Imbert, (Adobe product manager) , hinted that the 3D API is "coming in a future version".
( To the rest of us, that means, basically, "it's on it's way").

Quoteth Imbert " We will share plans with you at Max during this session, I tell you, some serious stuff is coming for 3D developers ". That's not a light statement, coming from Adobe.

Adobe MAX Conference Event

This is one competitor the "little guy" developers are gonna have to take very seriously.

Go, and see.

Stay Augmented

The Future of Books II: AR page turners

2010-07-10T21:16:00.000-04:00

Recently unveiled, Thailand's Institute for the Promotion of Teaching Science and Technology (IPST) demonstrated it's vision of AR in the classroom with AR capable, plain-paper textbooks.

The above example is used with QR codes, and probably a bit dated, considering Total Immersion's tagless AR, but the concept still stands.

Read the full article HERE.

GEAR: The Samsung Galaxy S Smartphone

2010-07-09T21:11:00.003-04:00

"Where have I seen this, before?"
Here's a contender in the AR-capable category, The Samsung Galaxy S.
Android 2.1, and Layar equipped, this Bad Boy has a lot going for it. Check out the full specs HERE

Dimensions: 64.2 X 122.4 X 9.9 mm (119g)
Processor:1GHz ARM
Display:4.0” WVGA(480x800) 16M SUPER AMOLED mDNIe(Mobile Digital Natural Image engine)
Samsung Android 2.1 (Eclair)
Camera:5.0 Megapixel AF camera
Light sensor:Accelerometer sensor, Proximity Sensor, Digital Compass
Additional Features:Layar Reality Browser powered by Tele Atlas
Swype, Write & Go, ThinkFree, Aldiko e-book

Read a review of this TechnoBox at V3.co.uk

The Future of Books- beyond the looking glass

2010-07-09T19:53:00.004-04:00

Eventually, we'll have content floating before our eyes, (like we don't, already, right?). But what about that content? Will it be as static as this blog entry you're reading right now. or will reading become an ever more immersive experience? Take Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland", (no, not the recent Tim Burton movie, the original 1865 story, itself). Sure, any codemonkey can burn a .PDF file, and scoll it in their reader, but what if it were a little more interractive? Thanks to Atomic Antelope, "There's an app for that":

Alice for the iPad

Sure, it's a cute bag of animation and accelerometer tricks, but it definitely shows how far a little creativity can invigorate any text, even a time-honored tale from 1865. Kinda funny, well over 100 years later, we're still viewing through a 'looking glass', of sorts.

Go, and see.

Stay Augmented.

"Just say no" to Format Wars.

2010-07-09T17:01:00.001-04:00

AR is certainly not "new". It has been painstakingly developed , over time, by a multitude of various individuals, and entities. The monetary implications are enormous. Every Archmage and Enchanter in the business wants a piece of the DAL pie. Just a quick glance to your right, to the growing links list, shows how big a battle it *could* be.

The one thing that could hinder the acceptance in the mass consumer market it lack of standardization. Yet another "Format War" (think 'Beta vs. VHS'.) Look at DVD player sales, before the DVD format war was won, ( by Blu-Ray) , sales were a mere trickle (by comparison). The average consumer sat on the sideline, and waited, making no purchases, until it became clear who the standard-bearer would be.

Why would the AR Market be any different? With QR codes, ARTags, tagless AR, ect, all vying for a place in the DAL, we need ourselves a Tower of Babel Standard. a common language for all Archmages and Enchanters to work off of, lest the Witches and Seers "sit on the sidelines" waiting for the AR standard-bearer to rise. The World Wide Web is viewable in a number of competing browsers, why should AR be any different? You can view AR through almost any smartphone, not just an iPhone. A varied field of competitors in any aspect of AR will be for the betterment of AR, (in the end), but we have to have all competitors agree to race on the same track, by the same rules, speaking the same language. Sort of an AR Olympics, I guess.

For one thing, it really should be an open-source standard. You give any one (or select group)of Archmages or Enchanters sole possession of the AR keys to the Digital Kingdom, and viola! You have the next Microsoft, or Apple: A large, corporate behemoth that will decide, for us, what we want, and how we want to implement it.

AT the moment, commercial momentum seems to be swinging in favor of Total Immersion, and it has a proposed course to standardize the experience of augmented reality , the AR PLUS logo:

Is this a step forward for all, or just a few? Time will tell.

Go, and see.

Stay Augmented.

News Brief:

2010-07-09T16:10:00.000-04:00

Total Immersion has launched it's D'Fusion for Adobe Flash Player.

D’Fusion for Adobe Flash Player gives developers the ability to create AR applications using Flash ActionScript and Marker Less Tracking Lite (MLT) technology. According to the company, unlike other AR applications, D’Fusion for Adobe Flash Player does not require additional AR-specific markers on material to trigger the experience. The software also incorporates a security mechanism designed to prevent third-party misuse of media. ( Ed: 'mis-use'? How is *that* defined, I wonder)

Metaio launches its Unifeye Mobile Software Development Kit (SDK) 2.1 for iPhone. According to the company, the update takes full advantage of the iPhone iOS 4 camera access API to create image based augmented reality experiences on the iPhone, the world`s first and only software development kit for creating mobile AR applications.

Layar celebrates it's first year! (Ed: Okay, I'm a sucker for scrappy underdogs)
Read more about this "Little Engine that could" at Games Afresco.

mtrip travel guides go on sale for the iPhone and iPod Touch.
A new iPhone travel guide app has gone on sale offering augmented reality, an automated itinerary planner, no roaming charges and guides for nine top US and European cities. mTrip Travel Guides also comes with a navigational tool that identifies where the user is and suggests the best route to either on foot or by public transport.

(article clip, via Travolution)

Life is a game, after all....

2010-07-09T15:30:00.000-04:00

..But with the additional opportunity to score points, it gets even better.: Epic Win (with thanks to Jesse Schell of Gamepocalypse Now) .

The new "killer app" is , well, 'Life"

How to make interactive, well, interactive.

2010-07-08T14:40:00.000-04:00

So far, we've learned to see. But the Digital Art Layer of AR is , (or should be) so much more than a passive viewing experience. So, we need a way that we in "meatspace" can actuate things in the Digital Layer.As time, and technology, progress, we're going to veer away from the "magic Lens" metaphor, where holding your phone to your face is "so 2010". How might we interact, then?

The Data Glove?

Nintendo Power Glove
Ah, the old standby. I remember one of these for my old Nintendo NES.(1989). An idea before it's time.

Too old? Too lame? Not "advanced enough"? Not anymore:

Power Glove 20th Anniversary Edition -- Build Video from Matt Mechtley on Vimeo.

This Bad Boy is an Arduino-controlled, Bluetooth-and-accelerometer-laden beast.

Matt, you have my highest regards!

All technology can be feasable, give the right impetus.

Okay, okay, not all of us can hard-wire a glove from component parts. How about "off-the-shelf" and ready gloves? Fortunately for us, the VR community has done plenty of work in that area. Here's an example of a 'modern' (2002) VR data glove, the P5:

Good, for it's time. Certainly slick looking. But will Mr. And Mrs. Average Consumer go for this? Probably not... especially at "VR Equipment pricing' range. For the hardcore, such hardware will be a badge of technical prowess, a Technomage's Ferrari, where we all aspire to surf the FutureNet of Johnny Mnemonic :

Yeah, sign me up for some of that!

Or, how about the interface in Minority Report?

Yeah, that's a bit closer, I think.

Guess what? "Hollywood, no more"

TED Talks..you gotta love them!

Or, they could move on to eyeball tracking, but that's, again, not for the "average consumer". And I dunno if I want a company like Microsoft (creators of the BSoD) to have a hand in shooting lasers into my eyes.)

Again, pretty advanced stuff. If AR is to be commercially viable, it has to be cheap, and quite honestly 'ID10T proof". Something like this:

Fairly clean interface concept.

Or, maybe we're over-analyzing it all. Look at the interface in Cyber Figure ARis. Just an ARTagged paddle. Cheap, simple, and fairly ID10T proof. Perfect for the mainstream consumer.

Perhaps, in the beginning, we'll just get an inexpensive "Cracker Jack" ring, with 3 sides (Point/click/drag), coded with ARTags, that act as a positional, and dedicated interface for our field of vision.

Again, the range of interface possibilities is as varied as the applications they will be used for, and new answers are evolving all the time.

Go out, and see.

Stay Augmented

AR and Learning

2010-07-08T09:06:00.000-04:00

Yeah, I'm putting off the marketing and advertising potential of AR off, for as long as possible, so let's take a look at the educational possibilities with Augmented Reality.

I'm gonna go out on a limb, and say that having an AR device on you raises your potential for knowledge.

Sorry..learning won't be that fast.

Okay, okay, maybe AR won't make you inherently smarter... but it can help you learn. Here's some existing examples of AR education, as it exists today:

The Barber of ARville: Air Hair.
Ever wanted to sculpt your art in the medium of human hair? Do you want to make your clients a human topiary garden? Well, you gotta start somewhere, and that old Barbie head in your closet ain't gonna "cut it".
Lo, and behold: AIR HAIR..

I'm surprised Air Gutiar hasn't been made, yet.

"Cut a little Deeper" - Virtual Surgery

Because doctors are all practicing medicine, because nobody's perfected it.

"Fear is the Mind Killer" : Cockroach Phobia

"There is no spoon"

Okay, maybe roaches aren't your phobia, but with AR, you can confront your phobia of choice: clowns, heights, Ultra-Conservative Right Wing Republicans, whatever.

"Those who do not know their history are doomed to repeat it" - Civil War AR

Because War can be a powerful learning tool.

"Whoa..I can fix cars!" BMW Auto Repair

Because if you've ever looked under the hood, you know you have to fight wire with wire.

"Whoa, puedo asesinatos única!" - Virtual Murder mysteries. "Mentira"

Using a fictional murder case to immerse students in the real world environments, not the classroom.

Chalk up a C0deHex on this, and *poof*, it's Augmented.

Sure, all the above examples are specific, but the concepts and applications they give way to are near limitless.

As always, there's so much more out there. Go, and see!

Stay Augmented.

C0deHex Theory "Fashion"

2010-07-07T15:28:00.000-04:00

"And the Freak shall inherit the Earth"

Well, like any other other "subgroup" of the technomancer sphere, a c0deHex Witch will have certain visual 'attributes', that will develop over time. Aside from other groups like Otaku, Goths, SteamPunks, CyberPunks, ect that carry their own certain stylistic appeal, a C0deHex Witch can be any of those, and more, because they weave the DAL. However, even though not all have "eyes to see" the magic that they weave, there will be trace elements that define them, mostly in the way of C0deHexes, and that, more often than not, of the ARTag variety. Mind you, we're talking about the "Magic Lens" metaphor moreso than the "Magic Mirror" metaphor. A brief explanation of the two: (images from ARTag.net)

"Magic Lens" The C0deHex is viewed through an 'enchanted' device, (like a AR-compliant smartphone, or in the below example, a pad) :

"Magic Lens" Metaphor

"Magic Mirror" The C0deHex is viewed through a webcam/monitor setup.

"Magic Mirror" Metaphor: What The Blind see, vs. what a Seer sees.

The "Magic Mirror" approach is already in place (in a way) , specifically in the 'fashion' sense. Advertisers are jumping on the AR bandwagon, and maketing their products in new, and interesting ways, Like the Ray-Ban Virtual Mirror, or the Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute for Telecommunications ' Virtual Mirror .

Already, you can see, the C0deHex will be something that stands apart..no matter what else you wear, even if it's as simple as a PaperTweet3d T-shirt from Squidder:

PaperTweet3d: Augmented Reality T-shirts from squidder on Vimeo.

Even "just a t-shirt" is no longer mundane, to those that have the eyes to see.

And, speaking of "eyes to see", regardless how one carries their hardware, whether it be 'in hand', backpack/messenger bag, ect, on thing that will seperate the casual from the hardcore will be the eyewear. THE hot item, hands down, will/should be the Vuzix 920AR. Tell me these won't stand out in a crowd. :

Oh yeah...*shivver*...must have.

I used to have an old pair of Virtual I/O i Glasses, "back in the day". Sadly, the software side of things wasn't really "there" , yet, so they became nothing more than an wearable monitor. I'm thinking things will be much different, this time around. Imagine carrying around a Digital Baby Dragon on your shoulders... that only those with the eyes to see can appreciate. Or, the back of your jacket animated with a YouTube video. The possibilities are only limited by your skill and imagination.

Want something even more radical? (who wouldn't, right?) Check out this concept from FrogConcept:

StormTroopers start at an early age.

The (visualized) view from within.

A London artist "Cassette Playa" recently went so far as to have an entire 'Neuromance' Fashion Show showcasing AR, and it's fashion possibilities. Yeah, A C0deHex Witch is gonna stand out.

CASSETTE PLAYA AW1011 - AUGMENTED REALITY from Amazing Grace on Vimeo.

Or, how about an AR Fashion show, on your tabletop, or in your room? The people at Laboratory4 can make it happen.:

And, let's not forget the special "AR Edition" of Esquire Magazine.

I like where this is going.

How about the "Next Big Thing" in Skin Ink? AR Tattoos!

Tell me this isn't cool, and I'll call you a Luddite!

Stay Augmented.

What has been done: Getting ARound

2010-07-07T13:22:00.000-04:00

You remember the first time you saw the original Terminator movie? Remember when the camera showed the world, from the Terminator's perspective?:

(scene from Terminator 2) Data overlaying a real-world scene. Sound familiar?

All that really was, was a Hollywood version of a HUD. (Heads Up Display). HUDs have been around a long time, long before AR. Fighter pilots in the military have had it *forever*:

Highway to the Augmented Zone...

Heck, it's even used by the RC/Hobby community to give a telepresence in their models, known as "FPV" (First Person View) by companies like ImmersionRC. Here's an example:

"It's almost like being there!"

However, we're not *as* concerned with telepresence, (as cool as it is), we want "a HUD for the everyseer". On the go, far from our terrestrial tied computers, to experience the DAL in all it's al fresco goodness, right? Well, to qoute the iPhone ad campaign "There's an app for that!"

The DAL is great for navigation of the mobile Seer. Aside from the geographical goodness that is Google Maps, ect..

Here's some examples. Most, (at the moment are iPhone apps, but you know Droid is never far behind) If you have a SmartPhone that is "none of the above", you *may* still get to experience it...your mileage may vary. One way , or another, your device must have GPS capability to operate.

Theolodite Pro:

Always know where you're heading is.

i-Hud

Pocket Universe:

Great for Celestial Navigation

Or, how about the WIkitude Drive App (for Android, yay!). Now, a stand-alone GPS for your car is obsolete! Check it out:

Wikitude Drive - Test Drivers Wanted from Wikitude on Vimeo.

Sorry, Garmin.

ARWave:

Well, there is more (there always is, as there will forever be), so get out there, and see.

Stay Augmented

Some of "What has been"- AR at play.

2010-07-07T11:39:00.000-04:00

AR has actually been around a while, and of course, aside from "NextGen" marketing, there is a "play" aspect to what augmented reality can be. For any of you who watch any amount of Anime, the concept of AR is kind of "a given". Here's a good example of AR in Anime (Denno Coil ):

While very stylistic, and far-fetched, the base principles still apply.

What might AR be like for you, the individual, in the future? Here's an almost fightening look at "AR run amok":

Augmented (hyper)Reality: Domestic Robocop from Keiichi Matsuda on Vimeo.

But, in the meantime, AR is not nearly as invasive. Simply "inviting".

One of the earlier adopters of AR in gameplay is Sony, with the "Eye of Judgement" title for the PS3, in conjunction with the "EyeToy":

I'd like to play around with that, myself. Always with the "magic" theme, eh?

Another, simpler, interractive AR "game" is "Dennou Figure ARis", that, while simple, shows hints of how bright the DAL's future can be:

(Hey, if the DAL has Anime, I'm all for it!)

Another entry I ran across recently was Mattel's good old "Rock 'e, Sock 'em Robots". Redone, AR style:

(Okay, bad commercial, good product.)

And, (for now) , one of the best AR shooter games I've seen,: ARhrrrr:

And, last, but not least: levelHead :A spacial memory game by Julian Oliver. (Now Julian is a prime example of a CodeHex Witch). Here's the ARt that he brought forth:

The laws of physics, time and space do not apply in AR.

levelHead v1.0, 3 cube speed-run (spoiler!) from Julian Oliver on Vimeo.

Here's a thought.. what about an AR Rubik's Cube? Customize THAT with AR, whether it be pictures, video, whatever..you get the idea. It's the toy that just...won't...die.

(EDIT: I tossed the AR idea over to David Hedley Jones at Rubik's. Time will tell.)

And let's not forget the Avatar iTag figures from Mattel.

And, Qualcomm just established a Augmented Reality Game Studio at Georgia Tech, so this is just the beginning.

There's more out there..go and see!

Stay Augmented.

Welcome to you, Seer of the DAL!

2010-07-07T09:58:00.001-04:00

"Huh? What the heck does *that* mean?"

So glad you asked. My name is AutumnalDusk, and I am a c0dehex witch. That is to say, an artist of the DAL. Higher than a Seer, but much lower than an Archmage. I suppose, first and foremost, that a brief explanation may be in order. This entire blog is about Augmented Reality, and my way of looking at it.

What is Augmented Reality? Why, it's the greatest thing since sliced bread, is all. It's what VRML always wanted to be. It's been in development for years, and things are now finally falling into place. Here's the definition from Wikipedia:

"Augmented reality (AR) is a term for a live direct or indirect view of a physical real-world environment whose elements are augmented by virtual computer-generated imagery. It is related to a more general concept called mediated reality in which a view of reality is modified (possibly even diminished rather than augmented) by a computer. As a result, the technology functions by enhancing one’s current perception of reality.

In the case of Augmented Reality, the augmentation is conventionally in real-time and in semantic context with environmental elements, such as sports scores on TV during a match. With the help of advanced AR technology (e.g. adding computer vision and object recognition) the information about the surrounding real world of the user becomes interactive and digitally usable. Artificial information about the environment and the objects in it can be stored and retrieved as an information layer on top of the real world view. The term augmented reality is believed to have been coined in 1990 by Thomas Caudell, an employee of Boeing at the time^[1].

Augmented reality research explores the application of computer-generated imagery in live-video streams as a way to expand the real-world. Advanced research includes use of head-mounted displays and virtual retinal displays for visualization purposes, and construction of controlled environments containing any number of sensors and actuators." /quote, Wikipedia.

That, my friends, is the birth of the DAL, the Digital Art Layer. As with any structure, there's a 'hierarchy', of course, and here's how it plays out ( in this primer):

The Archmages: The scribes of the code. These are the Entities and Individuals who write the underlying support software that makes it all possible. This is where the DAL is sourced from.

The Enchanters: Smithys of Enchanted Equipment. These are the Entities and Individuals who make the hardware for viewing the DAL.

The Witches: Those who weave the DAL. The artists of the DAL. Content creators, whether it be static imagry , audio visual, virtual telepresence, ect.

The Seers: "Those with the eyes to see the DAL". Basically, the end consumer. Anyone who has the ability to see the DAL. Every Witch is a Seer, but not every Seer is a Witch.

The Blind: Those who do not have the eyes to see the DAL.

The Puritans: Those who refuse to see the DAL

The Inquisitors: Those whose motivations (religious, political, social, economic) are to restrict the DAL, according to their own belief systems. These are the antithesis to "Information should be free", and are generally very Orwellian.

Another important term for this primer is the CodeHex, itself. which is simply the Machine readable code which acts as the interface point between the DAL and "the real world", CodeHexes, in their varieties have been around for a long time. From the Barcode, to the Aztec Code, to the QR code, and the Semacode (the matrix found in the header graphic for this blog is a Semacode for this blog's URL, making the graphic "machine readable"). A CodeHex, itself, is only the 'pointer' to the actual DAL content, (in most cases). In advanced cases, it can be much, much more. The most recognizable Code Hex (in AR) is the ARTag Marker:

18 of the over 2,000 ARTags, used in "Magic Lens" and "Magic Mirror" Metaphors.

There is, also, a trend in "tagless" AR, where just a simple picture, or logo, can generate the AR link.

Over time, I'll be covering "all that has been" to catch up. Along the way, we'll also look at "All that is" and "All that *may* be".

In the meantime, take a look at some of "what has been done". Use your imagination, and visualize "What may be". Who knows? You may be the next CodeHex Witch. ;)

Until then, Stay Augmented.

c0dehexwitch

Coming to a Jumbotron near you. (Blame Canada)

Gime a break! Kit Kat Scouting for Girls.

The potential to revive "dead" media.

Augmented reality. Better the flowers?

Art, and the vision to apply it, Tensai.

i Spy , with my little eye..Spyglass 3.0

Medical Practice. "Put your back into it" with AR.

Be all that you can (augmentedly) be. US Army AR.

My iQ just exploded...augmentedly.

Invizimals-Move over Pokemon.

Pirata Boat Race

Visions of the future, in 3D

Augmented Sexuality (SFW)

viZoo HD augmented Reality

The Green Hornet AR.

Invisible concrete...well, sort of.

The future is wild..and so is the past.

AR Wave simulator and more

See a streak on facebook.

Monster Media & Limited Space- a powerful combo.

Iron Man 2 -looking foward by looking back.

Total Immersion-HIRING

Parrot AR drone now for pre-order.

The Scrying Game- July, 2010

Deadliest Catch, Discovery Channel AR .

The Audi "carless" (AR) Car calendar. (video)

Everything is bigger in....Brazil?!?

Augmented Sevenfold- Revolver Magazine

AR is Mysterio...us?

The One that got away...CATCH.

Time Out New York’s Augmented Reality Cover Kid's Mag

Augmented Business Cards, nicely done.

Up from the depths...Godzilla!

Advertising as a game metaphor

ARagorn's Quest augmented reality contest

Coming soon, to a wallet near you

Oh, Brother. The AirScouter

The future of shopping

MS's Bing Maps, Augmented

Let's do the Time Warp again

An Augmented Stone gathers no moss.

“You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you might find, you get what you need”...do you want it/need it in digital? Yup.

The Rolling Stones have a new App out. "Exile on your street"

Using the Layar browser (quickly becoming the 'default' browser of AR) , you can now been your own Augmented Street Team, posting augmented posters, (and music tracks) from TRS, Available from both the website and via a Facebook App, for your 3Gs IPhone, iPhone4, and Droid Smartphones.

If The Stones are doing Augmented Reality, then AR just got a helluvalot 'cooler'. Now, if Aerosmith got in to counter this....sorry, just *have* to 'vote up' the Home Team.

Thanks to InventorSpot for the tip!

This is just the start, my friends. The tsunami is building.

Go, and see.

Conspiracy for Good

Sky Seige, Android AR

Putting the Art in AR. ART+COM

Hoopla for Hoppola!

X marks the spot...on the empty shelf.

Moovision, and the future of digital clutter

Eco Friendly AR Water Bottles

AR! There be pirates, mate,

Augmented cards.

It'sa meee...mARio.!

Sekai Camera for Android

MIT=WIN.

Augmented Twitter, and the future of Social Media

"When you wish upon a stAR..."

Adobe throws it's hat into the ring

The Future of Books II: AR page turners

GEAR: The Samsung Galaxy S Smartphone

The Future of Books- beyond the looking glass

"Just say no" to Format Wars.

News Brief:

Life *is* a game, after all....

How to make interactive, well, interactive.

AR and Learning

C0deHex Theory "Fashion"

What has been done: Getting ARound

Some of "What has been"- AR at play.

Welcome to you, Seer of the DAL!

If The Stones are doing Augmented Reality, then AR just got a helluvalot 'cooler'. Now, if Aerosmith got in to counter this....sorry, just have to 'vote up' the Home Team.

Life is a game, after all....