Augmented Reality

 Augmented-reality combined virtual images and text messages with real life scenery.

Today I will share some information about augmented-reality(AR) technology and software.
As technology developing rapidly, smartphone which installed android operation have higher network broadband and CPU, can process more image and download quickly. AR technology can easire take advantage of those factor. 

The video above is using Andriod Smart Phone G1 and AR software as a traval guide.

• Definition of Augmented-reality (AR)

Research on AR has been going on more than ten years. Ronald(1997) point out that AR is a variation of Virtual Environments(VE). AR allows the user to see the real world, with vitual objects super imposed upon or composited with the real world.

Ronald(1997)'s paper also defines AR as system that have the following three characteristics:

1. Combines real and virtual
2. Interactive in real time
3. Registered in 3-D

•  The current situation

In the past time, AR technology was related on HMD(Head-Mounted Display). Now many companies transfer to smart phone.

Augmented Reality was developed at this stage on the phone. The majority development was on Android phone Wikitude aforementioned Wikipedia tourist information realistic image of the company, has been published online by the API. Famous AR software Layar you not only open API, but also add up 3D object function. Nowadays more and more people use iPhone, however, there are not many software for iPhone.

• Combination of AR and traditional life

Normally, advanced application of technology will first be applied to life, the future of mobile AR technology will had a combination with the traditional business. The future mobile networks, video services will add a lot of AR technology in the future. By taking advantage of video phone and GPS Location data, AR technology can simulate each other's position and combine with the cloud technology of mobile Internet or an application to calculate the distance between the two, and lists a variety of transportation programs on your mobile phone.

Reference :

1. MMdays. (2009). Augmented-reality. Available: http://mmdays.com/2009/09/25/augmented-reality-for-dummies/. Last accessed 1st Feb 2012.

2. Ronald T.. (1997). A Survey of Augmented Reality. In: Ronald T. Teleoperators and Vitual Environments. Canada: Presence. p355-385.