GIS + AR (Augmented Reality)

Augmented Reality in Art

2011-07-04T13:32:00.006+01:00

Mobile augmented reality is not only for computer vision specialists but also for artists. There are a lot of attempts to use computer graphics in visual arts. Augmented reality is also one of the favourite techniques in visual arts. One of most interesting things about visual arts using augmented reality is that it generates more audience participation. Audiences can create and enjoy their own art using augmented reality.
Here are some video clilps that show some augmented realty visual arts.

augmented reality stencil - streetartlove.rs/belgrade from LiveViewStudio on Vimeo.

A Time-based Transit Map

2011-06-08T11:41:00.006+01:00

Time + Maps are always an interesting combination.
Stefan Wehrmeyer has developed a Google Maps application called Mapnificent which provides several intereting functions that combine maps with time. The application shows the areas you can reach with public transport in a user-defined time, and tis also displays the overlapping areas that two differnt persons can both reach within a given time.
Check the video clip in which the developer expains how this application works.

Mapnificent from Stefan Wehrmeyer on Vimeo.

Need for a "killer application in" Augmented Reality

2011-06-02T17:21:00.008+01:00

The BBC points out the problem that the augmented reality filed has encoutred.
I think we need a killer application that shows/provides better interface - something easier, more intuitive, simpler and more human-freindly than a conventional interface.

Image Processing-based Augmented Reality

2011-06-02T16:52:00.010+01:00

The BBC introduces a new augmented reality application which is image processing-based.

This app captures images such as logos and posters from the real world and then shows the linked webpage or video.

Popcode Apps

2011-03-18T16:10:00.007Z

Popcode is an augmented reality development tool kit.
The website provides a development manual as well.

Popcode at the Cambridge Science Festival from Cambridge University on Vimeo.

Augmented Reality Advertisement: Unilever

2011-03-18T14:52:00.008Z

Augmented Reality has become more pervasive in our life.
The video clip shows the Unileve company promoting their brand Axe using augmented reality in London's Victoria station.

This is a tag-based augmented reality. When travelers are located on the tag, the system superimposes a 3-D virtual angel object just around the travelers. It is a very interactive advertisement.

Augmented Reality Open Standard

2011-03-08T11:44:00.003Z

This article is about an attempt to make open standard augmented reality.

For the full article, click here.

Augmented Reality Applications

2011-03-02T14:43:00.009Z

There are couple of interesting augmented reality applications.

1. 3D Balls Game
Greece-based telecommunication company Cosmote made an augmented reality 3D game.
This augmented reality game allows you to play with a group of people.

Cosmote 3D "Balls" Game from OgilvyOne Athens on Vimeo.

2. Augmented Reality Advertising
Canada-based augmented reality company Ad-Dispatch has introduced a new advertising method that uses augmented reality.

Source : http://www.realareal.com/

Augmented Reality Presentation- HP

2011-02-24T10:42:00.009Z

Every year MacWorld gets a lot of attention from the Media and the public. I think the reason is not only Apple's new creative products but also Steve Jobs's genius presentation.
Steve Jobs is a recognised master of presentation, and it seems that remarkable presentation skills are becomeing one of most important talents to be a IT company's CEO.

This video clip was recorded "A New HP World" in Shanghai, China.
Paul Donovan, who is HP's vice president for the Asia-Pacific, gave a presentation that uses augmented reality. I have seen several presentations which use augmented reality. I think this presentation one of the decent presentations that uses augmented reality.

Augmented Reality Art.

2010-11-29T15:37:00.004Z

Digital Art (a.k.a. New Media Art) looks quite fun and gets a lot of attention from visitors. Here is some digital art from theMuseum of Modern Art in New York. Artists Mark Skwarek and Sander Veenhof use Layar, which is a very well known augmented reality platform.

Tamiko Thiel's work "Art Critic Matrix" from mark skwarek on Vimeo.

Microsoft Windows 7 based Augmented Reality application

2010-11-18T16:00:00.006Z

I have seen so many augmented reality applications which are based on the Android platform or the iPhone platform.
This is the first time I have seen a Microsoft Windows 7 based augmented reality application.
According to the website that I found this video clip, they needed to hack Window 7 in order to manipulate the camera because Windows 7 does not provide the API's which allow you to handle the camera.

Augmented Reality Dogfight Game: Star Wars

2010-11-11T10:34:00.005Z

This is a quite interesting game that uses augmented reality. The game concept is as simple as you can imagine: a classic dogfight game. However I am not entirely sure whether this can be called augmented reality. I think the definition of augmented reality is getting narrower. In the past, everything was called augmented reality as long as a virtual object was superimposed on the real world, no matter whether or not the virtual object had a relationship with the real world. However these days the definition has been narrowed, and if you want to call something augmented reality then a virtual object should have a relationship with the real world. For example, if you superimpose a virtual monkey on your screen with the real world as a background then that would just be a computer graphic. However if you can superimpose an image of that virtual monkey holding a real world object, then you could call that augmented reality.

Augmented Reality ID: Image Recognition

2010-10-27T14:22:00.008+01:00

This interesting application uses image recognition technology in order to recognise a real world object and it superimposes virtual information on top of that object. Most current augmented reality applications are using GPS and a digital compass to determine a location where you would like to superimpose virtual information. Still, there are a lot of shortcomings to using image recognition technology on mobile phones.

Augmented Realtiy CV

2010-10-14T16:21:00.007+01:00

If you like to impress your potential employer at your job interview. You should consider to make your augmented reality version CV.
This augmented reality CV and video made by CWJobs(www.cwjobs.co.uk) and Symbian co-counder David Wood.
The first video clip is an actual augmented reality CV and the second one is a making flim.
Enjoy it.

Augmented Reality application for drivers

2010-08-19T17:33:00.012+01:00

Here is an iPhone augmented reality application for car drivers. This application was made by a company called imaGinyze. This application detects the lane in which you are driving and the vehicle that is ahead of your car. This application mainly uses spoken notifications to provide the driver with warnings of any potential hazards. My concern is how this application might work in a traffic jam, on narrow roads, or on a road that does not have clearly-marked lanes.

Here is the video clip.

AR Controlled Device: Parrot's AR.Drone

2010-06-24T17:53:00.005+01:00

Here is a good item for somebody who has Peter Pan Syndrome.
Parrot’s AR.Drone is an iPhone-controlled quadricopter device. You can control this interesting toy with the very unique interface that iPhone provides and you can even control this object with your iPhone accelerometers. You can sync your iPhone with Pattort's AR.Drone and then your device will move right along with your iPhone.

IBM Seer: Augmented Reality app for 2010 Wimbledon Games

2010-06-16T11:37:00.009+01:00

IBM has upgraded their augmented reality application for the 2010 Wimbledon games. Named Seer, this application produces augmented reality views of geo-specific information, showing everything from the length of queues for Champagne or strawberries and cream to the location of the nearest cash machine. In addition, as part of a deal with the BBC, the application shows live video streams of matches from the top three courts. Seer is available for the iPhone and Android platform.

Augmented Reality Shadow: Shadow Fantacy

2010-06-10T15:05:00.005+01:00

This augmented reality story-telling shadow video is the thesis of Joon Moon, a student at Parsons School for Design.
This is a very artistic and creative work that uses augmented reality in an interactive way. The diagram below shows the story.

She calls this work "Augmented Shadow," and it is a design experiment producing an artificial shadow through the use of tangible objects, blocks, on a displayable tabletop interface.

Augmented Shadow_document from Joon Y Moon on Vimeo.

Glow: How do you feel today?

2010-06-10T12:49:00.006+01:00

Sometimes we read articles about which countries are the top 10 happiest countries in the world. This is a very general list that reflects year-round happiness. How about mapping your mood in real time, and comparing it with other people? Using an augmented reality view, you can even find out other people's moods in various countries. A new iPhone application called Glow allows you to put your current mood and to share it with your neighbors using augmented reality views. Furthermore, you can check the mood map for your country (or even the entire world) in real time.

Here are several mood maps from Central London, Europe, and North America at 15:00 London time on 10th June 2010.

Augmented Reality Game: Zombie ShootAR

2010-06-07T16:43:00.005+01:00

Zombie ShootAR is first Metaio based augmented reality game. It is operated on Symbian OS platform. Metaio is Germany based augmented reality company which has released an augmented reality platform called Junaio which is an open API for developers and has AR browser functions.

Quartz Composer: Augmented Reality without programming in 5 Minutes

2010-05-27T11:37:00.004+01:00

This application provides a very intuitive interface. You can generate virtual object and then you can superimpose the virtual object on your video clip.

Firefighter 360: Augmented Reality Game

2010-05-27T11:02:00.006+01:00

New York City and Los Angeles based augmented reality game company Ogmento released an augmented reality game called Firefighter 360.
It is a quite simple game as you can see from the video clip.

Augmented Reality ITS: Junaio

2010-05-26T20:01:00.008+01:00

Junaio is a mobile augmented reality browser. Junaio and Trimet announced a partnership and released Portland area's transit information and schedules information service using augmented reality on smart phone.
This application integrates transit data ranging from station locations, bus routes, to estimated arrival times, into a TriMet channel on the junaio 2.0 mobile augmented reality platform. Available free on the iPhone 3GS and coming soon to Android devices, junaio 2.0 features the TriMet channel to give riders easy and instant access to complete transit information on nearby stops by simply pointing their phone around them.

Here is another Junaio platform augmented reality application. This application provides the information about properties.

Augmented reality user interface: YDreams

2010-05-25T14:58:00.007+01:00

Since the release of the Si-Fi movie "Minority Report", Natural User Interface (NUI) has become a popular topic in the computer science field. Portugal based company YDreams introduce an NUI using augmented reality. In order to make this interface, the company combined such as computer vision, physical simulation, and artificial intelligence.

Is it possible to eat augmented reality?

2010-05-20T11:12:00.003+01:00

What would it taste like if you could eat augmented reality? I know this is a very silly question. Actually, a designer named Mike Clare made augmented reality cookies so as to use as an augmented reality tag.
I thought about designing my research poster for a conference as an augmented reality tag. That way, I could describe my work on the poster and in the meantime I could use the poster as an augmented reality tag. This would allow people to understand my work from the poster’s contents and to also see the virtual object which would be superimposed on my poster.

Demo of Augmented Reality Cookies from Tellart on Vimeo.

Augmented reality in retail shops.

2010-05-19T15:35:00.005+01:00

It seems like augmented reality is extending to more diverse fields. Retail shops have adapted augmented reality technology to give you an idea of how something would look on you even if you don't have the real goods. The technology can also provide the information about the goods.

See the video clips below:

Using augmented reality for a public campaign advertisement from the Dutch government

2010-04-30T10:03:00.007+01:00

"Save the cheerleader, save the world." It sounds very familiar if you have watched the American TV series Heroes. The Dutch government is using augmented reality to save its society and to make a better environment.
We have heard stories about how people often ignore or avoid someone who needs help after an accident or a crime in public places.

The Dutch government is now using augmented reality to motivate people.
The Dutch government has placed augmented reality billboards in strategic locations throughout Amsterdam and Rotterdam thoroughfares. These display the streets on which the billboards are located in real time and superimpose prepared scenes such as crimes or accidents.

It is a brilliant way to use augmented reality for a public campaign advertisement.

Augmented reality game from Citroën

2010-04-08T19:10:00.005+01:00

French car maker Citroën is using augmented reality to promote their new car.
Accroding to Citroën's website this augmented reality game was developed by a French augmented reality company called Total Immersion. You can print the tag from the website.

Augmented Reality: A New Visualisation Method for GIS

2010-03-26T10:22:00.003Z

I gave a presentation at CASA at UCL.
As ubiquitous computing and pervasive computing have become more and more implemented in our lives, we have become surrounded by more intelligent objects, and this has made our environment more complex. There are a lot of limitations to using current geovisualization techniques in trying to visualise such a complex real world. Augmented reality can be a promising technology to overcome this limitation, because augmented reality can provide dynamic and very realistic 3D virtual views.

This presentation was about my research background, introducing augmented reality, and some experimental studies about using tag-based augmented reality such as ARTag, as well as mobile augmented reality such as Layar.

Augmented Reality: A New Geovisualisation Method for GIS

View more presentations from Sung Hyun Jang.

Augmented reality: InvenSense (Motion-sensing for mobile phones)

2010-03-22T11:08:00.008Z

When we talk about ubiquitous computing (or pervasive computing), user interface is an important factor in order to provide an immersive intelligent environment. The method of interaction between human and computer has not changed for a long time since mouse and keyboard become a major interaction method. There have been several attempts to develop a new interface such as voice recognition, motion sensing, and so on. Ultimately, the future interface between human and computer will be the non-interface which means disappearing all interfaces that we are using now. An intelligent environment (ubiquitous environment) detects user's motion, thinking, or behaviour pattern and provides a service that the user needs before the user ask.
Here is a video clip about the motion sensing interface for mobile phones. It seems to detect the user's motion very well. The key issue of motion sensing interface is how to precisely detect the user motion and reduce unexpected operating from the user's extraneous actions.

Enhanced vision system : GM Augmented Reality

2010-03-18T15:12:00.009Z

The Augmented Reality field is getting more exciting. American car maker General Motors (GM) has introduced a new augmented reality display windshield called "enhanced vision system." This augmented reality system detects the driver's position and perspective and displays important objects such as road signs and buildings to which he or she is aiming to go.
It is still at the prototype level. However, you can have a car navigation system that is displayed on your car windshield. This kind of augmented reality display system provides a safer driving environment because the driver can pay attention to the road ahead while driving instead of looking at a navigation device on-screen.

Augmented reality: AR Map

2010-03-16T16:47:00.005Z

Tag-based augmented reality was one of the more widely used augmented reality platforms. There are two well-known augmented reality libraries, namely ARToolKit and ARTag. These two libraries are open source and support multiple platforms.

This video clip is an augmented reality application which uses ARTag. The application is called AR Map.

Augmented Reality: AR Map from GIS plus AR on Vimeo.

Augmented reality: UCL in Layar

2010-03-15T12:10:00.005Z

Layar has become a major platform for individual mobile augmented reality application developers.
Here is a video clip showing University College London (UCL) buildings in Layar.
In order to put UCL building information into Layar, I stored location information for each UCL building, as well as images, website, and phone numbers on my server.
This is a good example to show how mobile augmented reality should be combined with Location Based Service (LBS).

UCL in Layar from Sung Hyun Jang on Vimeo.

4 technical concerns that must be overcome in augmented reality

2010-02-23T11:07:00.005Z

In order for augmented reality to be successful, there are 4 main technical concerns we must consider in computer vision terms.
Here is a list:

1. Projection
2. Rendering
3. Location
4. Recognition

Here is some more information about those topics above.

In order to increase the array of virtual objects and real objects, we need good (fast) performance in recognition while the augmented really application is operating.

Here is an application which is using face recognition technology.

Augmented reality in the 2010 Vencouver winter olympics

2010-02-19T11:26:00.005Z

Yahoo! and Total Immersion are bringing augmented reality to the Winter Olympics. Augmenting virtual objects on moving real objects requires very advanced rendering technology. If the rendering is too slow, it will often miss the virtual objects when real objects are moving. This application seems to be quite precise in its rendering, even when the real object is moving.

A New Android Application : Google Shopper

2010-02-19T10:11:00.005Z

Google has launched a new Android application called Google Shopper which can lead you to a new way to buy goods. Google Shopper gives you information about a product that is displayed on the screen of your Android-platform mobile phone. The application can read a 2-D bar code or the front page of a book. In addition, the application recognizes your voice and searches for products that you are looking for.

Google has already launched an application called Google Goggles which uses image processing technology (namely image extraction and recognition). Google also already has an application called Google voice search.

10 Web Tech Innovations That Have Improved Our Lives

2010-02-18T15:47:00.005Z

While I was wandering around on the internet, I found a very interesting article called "10 Web Tech Innovations That Have Improved Our Lives"

Here is the full article.

1. Web Browsers
2. Search Engines
3. VoIP
4. RSS
5. The Real-Time Stream
6. Peer-to-Peer
7. AJAX
8. Software as a service
9. E-commerce
10. Wi-Fi

worksnug: find free wifi hotspots using augmented reality

2010-02-18T13:36:00.005Z

Here is an application that suits for people who work normally outside with their laptop.
The way of work is same as the application called nearest tube station.

A New Augmented Reality (AR) Application in Korea : Ovjet

2010-02-17T16:58:00.005Z

Korean mobile network provider SK Telecom has revealed a new augmented reality application called “Ovjet” for Android-platform mobile phones.

It seems like quite similar to the concept of Google Goggles. When you point your camera at a building using your Android phone, the relevant information about the building is superimposed on the camera image on your mobile’s screen. For example, when you point your camera at a movie theatre, the application provides information about the movies being shown, and if you point at a book centre you can buy books through Ovjet.

Exellent Review of Windows Phone 7 Series for mobiles

2010-02-17T11:18:00.004Z

Microsoft lauched a new mobile phone operating system called Windows Phone 7 Series.
I think Microsoft have paved their way for a comeback in the mobile OS market which until now has been occupied by Apple, Android and RIM.

Here is an excellent review of MS Windows Mobile series.

And one more article about lunching Windows Phone 7 Series is here from BBC.

Metaio : Unifeye® Mobile Augmented Reality SDK

2010-02-15T15:14:00.005Z

Metaio released a new mobile augmented reality SDK, called Unifeye® Mobile Augmented Reality SDK at Mobile World Congress 2010.
According to the press release document the professional toolbox in Unifeye® Mobile Augmented Reality SDK is supporting all major mobile platforms and features the latest image recognition technologies, 3D rendering for animations with real time interaction and optimized components for mobile hardware. With the Unifeye® Mobile SDK software it is possible to create fascinating marketing experiences, intuitive information design, mobile augmented reality games or innovative retail solutions. Based on the proven AR platform Unifeye® by metaio it is possible to easily develop and deploy solutions at the interface between the real and virtual world.

Can Microsoft Bing maps takeover Google maps?

2010-02-12T11:07:00.008Z

Recently Microsoft launched the new Bing Maps. It seems like they are really trying hard to takeover Google maps. They did an especially great job using crowd-sourced photos to create 3-D virtual worlds in their Maps.
Here are a couple of video clips about Microsoft’s Bing maps.

Microsoft Adds "Augmented Reality" to Bing Maps

2010-02-12T10:31:00.005Z

At the TED conference this week, Microsoft announced a new, AR mapping feature.

The full article is here.

Sat-nav devices face big errors as solar activity rises : BBC

2010-02-10T19:29:00.005Z

BBC : Sat-nav devices face big errors as solar activity rises

The picture from the BBC.

Google jumps into the SNS (Social Network Serviece) Market : Google Buzz

2010-02-10T12:14:00.009Z

Google launched a new Social Network Service (SNS) which is called Google Buzz.
Google has been observing the huge success of Twitter and Facebook. Now google tries to claim part of the success of Twitter and Facebook in the SNS market

A new mobile appl : GeoVector’s World Surfer 2

2010-02-10T11:27:00.010Z

A company called GeoVector launched a new version (2.0) of its World Surfer app for the Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) iPhone and Android-powered devices.
They categorized some themes such as coffee shops, resturants, historical places and so on, which they call "Channel". The application simply gives information on the direction you are heading.
As for as I understood their application, the application does not provide augmented reality display but they use digital compass and GPS.

Augmented reality game : Sky Siege

2010-02-09T10:50:00.003Z

Here is a augmented reality game which is called Sky Siege.
It looks a very interesting game.

GIS and Augmented Reality in 2015

2010-02-05T11:20:00.001Z

The last 12 months has seen a turning point in terms of bringing geographically aware augmented reality to mobile devices. Significant developments in locational technology such as the inclusion of a built-in digital compass, GPS (Global Positioning System) and accelerometers into mobile phones have allowed not only location but also heading, and pitch to be detected and therefore incorporated into data display systems. These built-in technologies have brought augmented reality to the hands of the masses, and the phones themselves have sparked a market driven boom in fusing augmented reality with location-based services (LBS). Currently applications are in their infancy and mainly focused on specific topics such as ‘show me where the closest x is’. This however represents the tip of the iceberg with the addition of a GIS into the mix there is notable potential for the industry.

This paper is a part of works from the Association of Geographic Information (AGI) Foresight Study in 2009.
The authors are Andrew Hudson-Smith and Sung Hyun Jang at the Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis (CASA) at UCL.

Mobile augmented reality to see $732 million market by 2014

2010-02-03T09:54:00.002Z

Juniper research predicts mobile augmented reality market will reach $732 million by 2014.
The full article is here.

High Capacity Color Bar Code : Smart Tag - Microsoft

2010-02-02T17:52:00.006Z

Here is a video clip about the Microsoft 2D colour tag.
Actually 2D colour tag is not a new technology. However, it seems like Microsoft tries to boom up this service.
Advantage : It can contain more information than just normal bar code or B/W 2D tag.
Disadvantage : Need a high resolution printer, Not a standard format.

The picture from Microsoft.

Augmented Reality Glasses : Vuzix 920AR

2010-01-29T12:15:00.003Z

A Video Eyewear and personal display devices for the mobile video manufacture company Vuzix will launch a augmented reality head mounted display called Vuzix Wrap 920AR in 6months.
The Wrap 920AR has a camera that can capture video a 752 x 480 resolution at 60fps, and combine it with a 1504 x 480 stereoscopic 3D image.

5 Best Things Vs 5 Worst Things About the iPad

2010-01-28T14:30:00.004Z

5 Best Things
1. Price
2. Unlocked 3G
3. External Keyboard
4. iWork: Keynote for presentations, Numbers for spreadsheets, and Pages for word processing
5. Supports eBooks in a standard format (ePub)

5 Worst Things
1. No built-in GPS
2. No built-in USB port
3. No built-in camera
4. No wide-screen display
5. TV out has a max of only 480p

Augmented (hyper) Reality: Domestic Robocop

2010-01-28T10:47:00.002Z

It is a short film by Keiichi Matsuda, a Masters student at the Bartlett School of Architecture in the United Kingdom.
This video shows how your life will be in the future with augmented reality environment.

Can the iPad Stimulate The Mobile Augmented Reality Market?

2010-01-27T09:42:00.012Z

There are so many rumours that Apple will launch a new tablet computer later today (27 Jan 2010) at the press conference from its base in San Francisco, California.

Many experts expect that iPad will change the whole paradigm for the media market, including newspapers, books and magazines.

One of the lasting effects of the iPod is that it has made people to start to pay for audio files and video files which they would previously download without paying from a P2P site.

How about the mobile augmented reality market? The mobile augmented reality market has significantly increased since the iPhone 3GS and the Android platform phone appeared. However, there are still big limitations to using augmented reality on a mobile phone. One of the limitations is a mobile phone's processing capability. Current mobile augmented reality applications mostly superimpose POI (Point Of Interest). This is because if you want to superimpose line or polygon objects, you would need a more advanced computer graphic program.

In this sense, the iPad could be a good device to overcome this problem. But even so, there are still many hurdles to be overcome to develop mobile augmented reality. Complicated and advanced computer graphic algorithms will need a high-performance processor. In addition, an iTablet would need a 3G connection so it can use databases when it is located in a remote place. I believe that iTablet will bring more dynamic mobile augmented reality applications to your hands.

Early Augmented Reality Applications

2010-01-26T15:55:00.008Z

Augmented Reality (AR) has been a widely-known concept since last year. Actually however, AR has been around for over four decades.
It would be worth it to look back on the major AR applications of the last few decades.
This posting is about AR applications that predate the iPhone and Android platforms.
The first augmented reality application was invented by Ivan Sutherland in 1968. He called it "Ultimate display" and he believed that the ultimate display might let us understand our own natural world better. It is basically a Head-Mounted Display (HMD) AR application.

The second major augmented reality application was made by Boeing. In addition, Tom Caudell started to use the word "Augmented reality". The flight simulation is one of the fields that has used augmented reality actively so far.

ARToolKit is the third major AR application. It was originally developted by Dr. Hirokazu Kato, and its ongoing development is being supported by the Human Interface Technology Laboratory (HIT Lab) at the University of Washington, HIT Lab NZ at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, and ARToolworks, Inc, Seattle.

ARTag is also another tag-based AR application like ARToolKit. The good thing about this application is that you can avoid one of the main problems that many programmers face: the array problem in matching the locations of real objects and virtual objects. ARTag came out many years after the original ARToolkit, and they improved the tag detection capabilities compared with ARToolkit.

References :
http://econsultancy.com/blog/5293-augmented-reality-ar-the-technology-is-now-market-ready
http://www.hitl.washington.edu/artoolkit/
http://www.artag.net/rev1.html

Have you ever played a rock-paper-scissors game with your T-shirts?

2010-01-22T14:53:00.001Z

Here is an interesting video clip showing one use for augmented reality. Augmented reality has become more and more intelligent. It is not only showing virtual objects but also it can communicate between virtual objects and humans. I think this could be the future of augmented reality.
We could improve this application by making it more realistic. In the real world of course we play face-to-face. One improvement could be for one player to wear the T-shirt while the second player wears the augmented reality goggles and plays against the first player's T-shirt.

Extend your visibility – Transparent wall

2010-01-19T11:10:00.001Z

Here is a good example of how augmented reality can extend your visibility. This video clip is from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and it shows how we can use augmented reality not only for entertainment but also to save lives.

Using sensors has been a common way to extend visibility, but this is the most human sense friendly way to do that. Just watch the video and you will understand what I am talking about.

A new interface for next generation computing.

2010-01-14T14:52:00.011Z

An interface and the interaction between human and machine have become big issues since the release of the iPhone, a mobile phone that has had a huge impact in the market. I believe that one of the reasons that the iPhone has been enjoying huge success is its new interface. This new interface is called "touch," or "haptic," and it was not very common before. Before the introduction of the iPhone, inputting commands through a touch interface was only possible on a simple bank machine. High-tech touch interfaces were only something we saw in movies like "The Minority Report." But now the iPhone has made such interfaces quite common in hand-held devices.
Since the implementation of next generation computing (also known as the ubiquitous environment or pervasive computing), we have seen that two issues have become very hot topics; namely new interfaces and the interaction between human and machines.
Here is an interesting video clip that shows a new interface and a new way of interacting between human and machine.
David Merrill from MIT presents a technology called Siftables at the TED conference.

Washington Post: "Google phone would break industry model"

2009-12-16T16:41:00.009Z

The advent of the Android-based Google phone "Nexus One"

Google has tested their first mobile phone, "Nexus One," through their employees.

The appearance of an advanced mobile device this year has led to an outpouring of mobile augmented reality applications.

So it is very interesting to hear that Google is going to launch their first mobile phone, "Nexus One."

Here is an interesting news article from the Washington Post about the new Google phone. It compares the policies of iPhone and Google phone to the OS battle between IBM and Apple in the 1980s.

The full detail article is here.
The image from here.

Augmented reality games

2009-12-14T14:57:00.001Z

Since augmented reality technology became widespread, one of the most active industries in using augmented reality technology has been the game industry.

The game industry is less affected by the current technical limitations of augmented reality.

In order to use augmented reality in real life, we need to superimporse virtual objects on the real world with precision. A built-in GPS and digital compass help us determine the correct locations where virtual objects should be placed. However, GPS has a margin of error in location (most built-in GPS units that we use in our smart phones have an average margin of error of 10m ~ few hundred meters ) and you can't use GPS indoors.

On the other hand, the interface in most augmented reality game applications is the situation (or environment) programmed under the scenario that the provider designed.

Here are several augmented reality games:

1. Pac man

2. Invizimals

3. Eye Pet

My 3 favorite mobile augmented reality applications

2009-12-10T18:19:00.013Z

Since the iPhone 3GS and Android platform mobile phones have appeared, a lot of mobile augmented reality application have launched. These include LBS (Location-Based Service) mobile augmented reality applications, games and so on.

I have tried some of these applications and here are my three favorite mobile augmented reality applications so far. This is only my personal opinion, and I only chose applications which are related to GIS or LBS.

1. Layar
Layar is a platform for mobile augmented reality. The great thing about this platform you can make your own augmented reality application on your Android phone and your iPhone.
In order to do this you need to get a developerID and a developer Key from Layar. I think Layar will help to diffuse the usage of augmented reality in the mobile world.
The video clip is here

2. Acrossair's Nearest tube
Acrossair's Nearest tube is one of the first augmented reality applications on the iPhone. The reason I like this application is that the user interface is very simple and easy. I think that is the most important factor if an application is to become widely used. In addition, this application has showed how we can use augmented reality with GIS (or LBS) in the first stage of mobile augmented reality.
However, producing only directions and distance is not enough for real-life usage. I have used this application only once since I downloaded it several months ago, but it does a great job of showing us what the future can hold when we combine augmented reality with GIS and LBS.
The video clip is here

3.WIKITUDE Drive - AR Navigation
AR Navigation is the best application when it comes to combining GIS with augmented reality. It also features world-wide coverage. In order to improve this application in the future, it could be fused with other technologies. For example, as display technology has improved there have been several attempts to use a car's windshield as a display material. If we can use this transparent display to provide information to a driver, we can have a significantly safer driving environment. And in order to enhance the accuracy of figure information, image recognition and detection technology should be improved.
The video clip is here

An amazing image recognition technology - Google Goggles

2009-12-09T18:19:00.004Z

Since I began to study augmented reality, I have recognized that image recognition and image detection are significant technologies that can enhance locating accuracy.
Now Google has introduced an application (a new searching method) called Google Goggles. It recognizes the image of a book's front page, the text of business cards, and even buildings. In the cases of books and buldings, Google Goggles shows further information about those objects. In addition, it directly extracts text from business cards (name, phone number, etc.)

UrbanDiary on Layar

2009-12-01T17:17:00.001Z

Another cool video clip made by Fabian Neuhaus who is a Ph.D. student at CASA (Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis) at UCL.
This is a part of his research on "Urban Diary - The Spatial Narrative of Everyday Life" Urban Diary focuses on the cycles and rhythms in the urban environment.
In this video he shows people's tracks using Layar which is an augmented reality platform.

Junaio - New augmented reality platfrom for iPhone

2009-09-22T12:16:00.004+01:00

One of augmented reality companies, Metaio is going to launch a new augmented reality platform for iPhone, Junaio on 2nd November.
According to their press information, Junaio will allow users to see location-based content through the display of a mobile device, which is most mobile augmented reality applications' basic concept. The expect contents on Junaio will be trace, messages or objects and visually interact with user's friends or anyone else in the world. More features will be released soon after, including capabilities on the Android and Symbian platforms.

Wikitude Drive – AR Navigation System

2009-09-02T09:48:00.003+01:00

Mobilizy GmbH has released a new Android based augmented reality car navigation system. According to the website, this application has world wide coverage. However, your mobile device must be connected to a mobile internet network while you are using it, because this application is designed to get data in realtime from the internet.

London Bus 3.0 Augmented Reality app for iPhone 3GS

2009-08-29T17:09:00.004+01:00

This is the bus version of augmented reality application which leads you to the nearest bus stops in London. This application called the London Bus 3.0 app for iPhone provides the nearest bus stops and POI(Point Of Interest) Elements located at a distance less than 1km (0,621miles). This application will be very useful not only londoners but also travelers from overseas. Becuase of this application provides multi languages such as English, French, Spanish, Deutsch and Japanese.
More information of this applicaton is here.

Augmented Reality: Augmented Traffic Views

2009-08-26T10:33:00.004+01:00

This augmented reality application shows how augmented reality can be used for ITS (Intelligent Transportation Systems) in contrast to the last few augmented reality applications, which give you information about restaurants and buidlings. The augmented traffic views application shows you current traffic scenes from traffic monitoring cameras. The application augments points of traffic monitoring cameras which are located near you. It basically works with GPS and a digital compass. According to the video clip it displays traffic monitoring camera scenes remarkably fast.

SREngine : Augmented Reality Engine for iPhone

2009-08-20T10:42:00.005+01:00

SREngine is a software engine which recognizes static scenes of architecture, such as streets, posters, rooms, and so on. SREengine stands for Scene Recognition Engine. Here is how this engine works:
while your iPhone camera is facing a builing as an SRengine client or user, SREngine recognizes the image and gives you information about the building from the Server. The engine can recognize static scenes only and it cannot recognize simple scenes such as a solid white wall. But it looks like it works very well on iPhone.

SREngine for iPhone Prototype from Sein on Vimeo.

London Small World - Timelapse

2009-08-19T16:42:00.012+01:00

This cool timelapse animation is made by Fabian Neuhaus who is a Ph.D. student at CASA (Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis) at UCL.
He spent two days taking these pictures at several places(i.e Gordon Square, the Millennium Bridge etc) in London.
Enjoy this cool video.

London Small World from urbanTick on Vimeo.

GraffitiGeo : iPhone Augmented Reality app for restaurant reputations.

2009-08-17T12:06:00.000+01:00

These days, people rely on reputation websites, or something like the Michelin guide, when they choose a restaurant. Especially, when you go somewhere on vacation, reputation websites can help you a lot to choose a decent restaurant for your perfect holliday. Now you can be helped to find a good restaurant through an iPhone AR application.
A company called GraffitiGeo is going to launch a new AR application for iPhone. This application can tell you the reputation of the restaurant your iPhone is displaying.

Acrossair browser - AR for your local restaurants, estate agents etc.

2009-08-16T18:05:00.000+01:00

Acrossair, the UK Augmented Reality application company which launched the nearest tube station augmented reality application has released a new AR application.

This application shows your local restaurants, properties, theatres and so on in AR view. In addition, you can find the places that you choose from this application through Google maps. This application works only on iPhone.

Introducing Augmented Reality from BBC

2009-08-11T22:53:00.000+01:00

This video clip is about introducing Augmented Reality and how Augmented Reality Application works on mobile device. BBC interviewed the person who is the founder of the UK based AR application company which launched "The nearest tube station AR application" few weeks ago. According to this interview we can expect more AR applications before the Christmas.

The original BBC article is here .

Augmented reality meets scavenger hunt with GeoBeagle, Wikitude

2009-08-11T19:58:00.000+01:00

This is another Android based Augmented Reality application which is made by U.K.-based developer Nicholas Tollervey. It is Augmented Reality version of treasure hunting game. I found this this post from the Venturebeat website.
The more detail information about this application here.

Geocaching, an outdoor game where players use GPS on mobile devices to leave or track down hidden packages, may be about to get a bit easier.

Instead of relying on GPS coordinates and written clues to find packages, players can see visual markers on an Android phone’s viewfinder thanks to an augmented reality project by U.K.-based developer Nicholas Tollervey. It’s one of augmented reality’s newest uses after two companies released application programming interfaces last month to encourage experimentation. Augmented reality is a young field that lets you overlay information or graphics in a viewfinder. It was considered more of an academic pursuit until smartphones opened the door to potential everyday use.

Tollervey took data from GeoBeagle, a free, open-source application for Google’s Android platform and marked it up in the Wikitude browser. Wikitude is an augmented reality browser from Austrian company Mobilizy. When it launched last year, it was a travel guide that let you hold up your Android phone’s viewfinder and see Wikipedia articles tagged to places around you. (See examples here.)

Since then, the company and its Dutch rival, SPRXMobile, have opened up APIs and are competing to lure independent developers to build apps. So the space could be set to balloon with lots of interesting commercial applications. Think restaurant recommendations, real estate listings, or search queries that could be launched directly from your phone’s viewfinder.

A review of AR-media™ Plugin

2009-08-10T18:05:00.000+01:00

I tried to use AR-media™ Plugin which is made by the Development Lab of Inglobe Technologies, an Italian company specializing in the development of Augmented Reality solutions. It is very quick and easy way to make an Augmented Reality scene on your screen.
In order to use AR-media™ Plugin you should have the Google SketchUp program which you can download at google . In addtion you can download a trial version of AR-media™ Plugin from here.
If you install the AR-media™ Plugin correctly you can see the AR-media™ Plugin button on your Google SketchUp program. And then you can simply generate a virtual object on your screen. In order to augmente a virtual object you need a paper tag which is provided by AR-media™ Plugin.

It is really easy and instantaneous. However, there is one shortcoming, which is that you can augment only one scene at a time.

Microsoft sustainability

2009-07-31T11:34:00.000+01:00

Since iPhone's remarkable hit on the mobile device market, new keywords such as "New User Interface", "Touch Screen," and "Haptic" have become new paradigms on most markets. Mega pixels and MP3 player functions were big issues on the mobile phone market just a few years ago. However, most major mobile phone providers emphasize their new user interface, especially interfaces using 3-D and touch functions. In addition, as pervasive computing and Ubiquitous computing has appeared, the demand for new user interfaces and new display technologies has increased enormously.
On the other hand, as display technology has been developed we begin to rebel against the restraint imposed by monitors.

This video clip shows our new life with new display technologies and new interfaces. To keep pace with the times, we encounter new formats of GIS data such as portable light.

(From : http://ohhello.tv/index.php/work/view/microsoft_sustainability/)

Augmented Reality GPS Tour Video

2009-07-09T13:11:00.000+01:00

This video was recorded around the middle of 2007. It is a HMD (Head Mounted Display) based Augmented Reality application. The one big benefit of HMD AR is total immersion as contrasted with Monitor-Based AR.

Nearest Tube iPhone App Adds Digital Directions to Your Surroundings [IPhone Apps]

2009-07-07T23:05:00.001+01:00

iPhone 3GS only: The Nearest Tube iPhone app uses the iPhone 3GS's newly-adequate camera to show the direction of the nearest tube station by adding directional arrows to a real-time "video" you take of your surroundings. Seriously, check this out.

AcrossAir, the makers of the app, claim it as one of the first "augmented reality" apps for the iPhone, meaning it adds digital signs to a real-time video. It only supports the London Underground for now, and is currently being approved by Apple, but we could definitely see this coming in handy for most any major city. Can we humbly request a version for Chicago, city of the miles-apart subway stations? We'll let you know when it's eventually approved and released into the App Store. (From Gizmodo.com)

Pattie Maes demos the Sixth Sense

2009-07-02T13:49:00.001+01:00

This demo, from Pattie Maes' lab at MIT (and spearheaded by her student Pranav Mistry), was the buzz of TED2009. Sixth Sense is a wearable device with a projection screen that paves the way for profound, data-rich interaction with our environment. Imagine Minority Report and then some. (Recorded in February 2009 in Long Beach, California. Duration: 08:42.) (From TED website : http://www.ted.com/)

Interaction of Mobile Camera Devices with physical maps

2009-06-29T15:25:00.000+01:00

This video clip shows another way to use Augmented Reality with Maps. The application augments POIs (Point Of Interest) on your mobile device screen when your mobile device displays a map.

WikEye

2009-06-29T15:15:00.000+01:00

WikEye is a mobile application which uses printed Maps as Magic Lense to access Wikipedia Content.

Traditional paper-based maps are still superior to their digital counterparts used on mobile devices in several ways. They provide high-resolution, large-scale information with zero power consumption. On the other hand digital maps provide personalized and dynamic information on request, but suﬀer from small outer scales and low resolutions.
Combining the advantages of both, the “WikEye” project uses mobile camera devices (such as the Nokia N95) as a map-referenced magic lens that displays georeferenced information on top of the physical map.
In the WikEye project georeferenced Wikipedia content is made accessible by moving a camera phone over the map. The live camera image of the map is enhanced by graphical overlays and Wikipedia content.

Augmented reality android app: Wikitude

2009-06-19T17:42:00.001+01:00

This is the one of the first augmented reality applcation for Android. It shows the POI(Point Of Interest) through your mobile device screen.
GPS, Digital Compass and Accelerometer were used to catch up your location and visual angle, and Image Recognition, Data Connection were used as well.

IBM’s ‘Seer’ Brings Augmented Reality to Wimbledon

2009-06-18T16:04:00.000+01:00

IBM has unveiled an Android application designed to change the way tennis fans keep up to date with all the action going down at Wimbledon 2009. The app called Seer features location-aware visualization built for the T-Mobile G1. Using augmented reality, Seer works as a real-time guide and interactive map and provides users up to the second scores. Like other augmented reality apps Seer Android Beta uses the camera and lays content and map tools right on top.

Everything from tennis matches to dining and points of interest will be plotted using the combination of GPS, camera, compass. Users get a ‘heads up display’ to so they can see exactly what it is they are looking at. One added feature that other AR apps don’t use is tying in live data. For instance if you point your G1 towards a tennis court, users not only get basic information like the court number, but also details about the current and subsequent matches.

These applications were designed with tennis fans in mind and add a whole new dimension to the event whether you are attending in person or sitting in your garden 5,000 miles away. I can see the incredible potential here to change the way people will engage with major sporting and other events both now and in the future, as the applications help address common challenges such as getting lost, encountering queues or momentarily missing some of the action. - Rob McCowen, Marketing Director at The AELTC.

IBM will be showing off the new app and giving demonstrations at Wimbledon.

Augmented/Mediated Reality Concpets

2009-06-17T12:46:00.000+01:00

This video shows how Augmented Reality changs human life style. Fusion of GIS, LBS, and Computer Vision(Augmented Reality) technologies could make our life totally different from now.

ARhrrrr! Augmented Reality Game

2009-06-17T12:16:00.000+01:00

Using an SDK for NVIDIA's Tegra chipset, Georgia Tech and SCAD-Atlanta have teamed to design a new platform for gaming: Augmented Reality.

Taking props and backgrounds from the users perspective, using a camera and a 3D portable platform, Augmented Reality can take the future of the mobile device to a whole other level. Using a flat picture that resembles a map of a city center, Skittles and camera movement, Tegra' SDK platformed with GT's and SCAD-Atlanta's project game ARhrrrr, users can battle zombies in reality on the mobile device.

This will allow for users if produced publicly and on a massive scale, to bring objects in their environment and the items surrounding them, actively into the software they are using. This project will open and allow a much greater advancement for tomorrows portable tech and will greatly change what portable users do on their personal devices.

Although AR is currently only a concept, there are hopes that NVIDIA Tegra based devices are released and that production, sales and development for said devices are financially open to users on all levels.

Augmented Reality on your Mobile

2009-06-17T11:41:00.000+01:00

Brightkite Augmented Reality from Brightkite on Vimeo.

The World’s First Augmented Reality Browser. Layar is a free application on your mobile phone which shows you what is around you by displaying real time digital information on top of reality through the camera of your mobile phone.
Layar will be available for the T-Mobile G1, HTC Magic and other Android phones in Android Market before July 1st 2009.

How do you use Layar?
By holding the phone in front of you like a camera information is displayed on top of the camera display view.
For all points of interest which are displayed on the screen, information is shown at the bottom of the screen.

What do you see in the screen?
On top of the camera image (displaying reality) Layar adds content layers. Layers are the equivalent of webpages in normal browsers. Just like there are thousands of websites there will be thousands of layers. One can easily switch layers by selecting another via the menu button, pressing the logobar or by swiping with your finger across the screen.
We offer companies the possibility to publish their own layer in our browser(through an API). Currently several companies have already signed up for Layar and will publish their own content in their branded layer soon. We will share with you soon which layers will be available in your country.

Features of Layar
Layar has some cool features. We have listed a couple of them below.
Switch layers easily
Radar widget to give you an overview
Logobar to indicate which layer is active
Link through to mobile websites
Integrated map view
Custom filters for each layers (like distance, category, search box)
Who is the team behind Layar?

Layar is developed by SPRXmobile. A Mobile Innovation Company run by Raimo van der Klein, Claire Boonstra & Maarten Lens-FitzGerald.

Ubiquitous Geocontext

2009-06-09T14:08:00.000+01:00

How to develop an application for Android

2009-06-03T11:37:00.000+01:00