TRENDWRAP
SEPTEMBER 2009
AUGMENTED
REALITY:
A C L I C KA B L E WORLD
“Virtual Reality” replaces the real world by
requiring users to step into a computer-
generated graphic world.
“Augmented Reality” combines real-life, real-
time views overlaid with sophisticated graphics,
such as the ‘first down’ line seen in football
TV broadcasts. This powerful convergence
supplements and enhances our existing world.
The result is a surging trend in the mobile and
computer space with a profound impact on
human interaction.
In this issue of Trendwrap, we explore how the
intersection between real life and the digital
world has dimensionalized human interaction
into an idea about anticipation, participation
and access.
w w w. t r e n d w r a p . c o m
AUGMEN T E D R E A L I T Y
AN T I C I PAT E
Wouldn’t it be cool to see how furniture might look in your home or how
an outfit might look on you before you buy either? Trying before buying
allows one to experience a product before it becomes a reality.
IKEA FURNITURE SHOPPING
The Portable Interior Planner is an AR
mobile app manual that gives customers
a 3D look at how they might arrange
furniture in their home. The customer
chooses an image of the product they’re
interested in and aims the camera of
their phone at the area of the room
where the furniture might be placed.
The image of the room plus the furniture
appears on screen and can be scaled to
fit better in the scene.
RAY BAN
Ray Ban created a Virtual Mirror on their
site that allows consumers to “try on” a
pair of sunglasses, by simply sitting in
front of their computer webcam.
USPS
Ever wonder how much a package will cost
to ship? Thanks to AR and USPS, you can
hold your item in front of your computer
webcam, select an appropriate sized box
with price specified.
PART I C I PAT E
AR enables people to have a more active and immersive role that allows
them to join the experience. Levels of participation can be between
person to brand or product and person to community.
BMW REPAIRS
BMW is currently researching an AR
application to help mechanics in their
workshop. The mechanic receives
additional 3D info on the engine he/
she is repairing as he/she fix it to help
diagnose the problem. Apart from the
AUGMEN T E D R E A L I T Y
PART I C I PAT E
real environment, he sees virtually animated components as well as
the tools to be used. He also hears step-by-step instructions through
headphones inside goggles.
ARHRRRR
The AR shooter game known as ARhrrrr allows players to use their
camera phone to transform a 2D map into a 3D world where zombies run
amok. Players can even place
“bombs” onto the map in the
form of Skittles—an interesting
integration of tangible objects
with a digital environment.
THE PARIS SCIENCE MUSEUM
The museum is currently testing an
AR system that transforms the entire
museum into a clickable environment.
Visitors point their mobile device
at one of many “airtags” scattered
throughout the museum to read
about an exhibit. The system then
takes user engagement to the next level–visitors are able to create their
own airtags, by using their camera phone to take a picture of something
in the museum, and tag it with a typed or recorded voice message for
other visitors to view.
ACC E SS
AR breaks down barriers to grant access to deeper knowledge, exclusive
entertainment, and richer information about the reality in front of us. It
enables the user to access information and data that is both factual and
is derived from personal opinion.
WIKITUDE: access to the local travel market
With Wikitude’s AR Travel Guide, one can
hold up their phone to a landmark such
as a local museum to find out about its
art collection through information housed
on Wikipedia. Using GPS, the screen
then displays Wikipedia information and
panoramic vistas of the landmark within
eye-shot.
AUGMENTED REALITY
ACC E SS
LAYAR: access to the local commercial market
Use Layar to browse local businesses, or see
all of the real estate listings on your street with
details about pricing. Imagine watching Twitter
status updates of the person walking down the
street or finding information on ATMs, public
transport, etc., in a city you’re visiting.
YELP: access to the local food market
With Yelp’s Monocle app for the iPhone 3GS—
activated by shaking the phone three times—
people are given a live camera view which
overlays Yelp listings for the direction you are
pointing. Driven by the compass feature of
the iPhone, a person can walk around and see
reviews of restaurants and services that are realtime to their movements.
FROM COO L TO P E R S O N A L
Using GPS and a compass with a few labels à la Google
Street View is passé. Augmented reality knows what it is
seeing; it can read the visual language coming into the
camera to know that a building is a building; a person is a
person.
AR does more than just overlay information—AR transforms
the “real world” into a clickable Internet browser.
The future of AR technology then becomes more
personal. What began from our desktops is now
available wherever we are, thanks to increasing
availability across a range of mobile technology. What
is truly amazing about AR, however, is its potential—
when it’s predicted that the next user interface is a
pair of glasses, or even contacts—who knows where
AR can
take us.
We’re now faced with new
ways to excavate levels of
information and deeper
ways to get more out of the
world in front of us.