Coming to a Jumbotron near you. (Blame Canada)

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.

 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.

Art, and the vision to apply it, Tensai.

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.

My iQ just exploded...augmentedly.

 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.

Augmented Sexuality (SFW)

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.

The Green Hornet AR.

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.

See a streak on facebook.

 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.

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.

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.

Deadliest Catch, Discovery Channel AR .

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.

AR is Mysterio...us?

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.

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

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.

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!

...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

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

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

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.

The future of shopping

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.

Moovision, and the future of digital clutter

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.