Blog Discussion: Software of Augmented Reality

Just like everything else, Augmented Reality needs suitable software for it to work properly. Therefore, we would like to introduce to you 3 out of many softwares available. These softwares are ARToolKit, junaio and UNIFEYE Mobile 2.1.

ARToolKit
ARToolKit is a software library for building Augmented Reality (AR) applications. It was originally developed by Dr. Hirokazu Kato and is supported by University of Washington, University of Canterbury and ARToolworks, Inc. ARToolKit is now being used by over 300 researchers worldwide for a very diverse set of projects. Such project consists of The BlackMagic Kiosk, The MagicBook, ARCO as well as several others.

AR applications are in fact fantastic, yet such high-end technology is yet to be perfected. Flaws such as the problem of tracking users would be one main problem as the application needs to know where the user is looking in the real world, creating lags or imperfection of the 3D Visual projectile. This is when ARToolKit comes in. ARToolKit uses computer vision algorithms to solve this problem.The software calculates the position of the camera and the user to have the 3D projectile come in without problems. ARToolKit has also developed their software to be suitable for Microsoft Windows and it has recently been ported to the Android operating systems and iPhone to support mobile AR applications.

Several features of ARToolKit include:
• Single camera position/orientation tracking.
• Tracking code that uses simple black squares.
• The ability to use any square marker patterns.
• Easy camera calibration code.
• Fast enough for real time AR applications.
• SGI IRIX, Linux, MacOS and Windows OS distributions.
• Distributed with complete source code.

junaio
Many must be wondering what junaio is. It is actually an augmented reality browser, specifically designed for the next generation mobile camera equipped devices. It provides users with interactive web based information and services wherever they are.
With this software, any information would be just a shot away. For example, pointing your camera at a monument you would be able to click-and-view its history, or the cheapest nearby hotel, or the menu the restaurant next door. Besides those, Inserting graphics and 3D objects to your location or posting recommendations makes junaio a social experience.

junaio’s latest products would be junaio GLUE. GLUE is designed for the purpose of use of iPhone and Android phones. It not only may the user obtain information on nearby Points Of Interests (POI) such as shops, restaurants or train stations, but the camera's eye is now able to identify objects and "glue" object specific real-time, dynamic, social and 3D information onto the object itself.

Have a look on the clips below: 











UNIFEYE Mobile 2.1.
UNIFEYE Mobile 2.1 is software produced by metaio, which is also the same producer of junaio. The Unifeye Mobile platform is considered one of the best solutions to create augmented reality applications Featuring a high-level Application Programming Interface (API) and latest image recognition technologies it allows developers to produce high-quality applications with low efforts.

Its main supported platforms are iPhone, Android, Symbian OS and WinMobile. It features the latest image recognition (tracking) technologies, including a marker-based and robust 2D-texture tracking for arbitrary images. It is also an optimized component for mobile hardware. The libraries and algorithms written are taken into account of hardware limitations resulting it, Unifeye Mobile SDK as the fast and compact modular system.


Reference list:
http://www.junaio.com/
http://www.metaio.com/products/mobile/
http://www.hitl.washington.edu/artoolkit/

Blog discussion: What is Augmented Reality? -extension-

Augmented reality is a new emerging technology that involves the overlay of computer graphics on the real world where computer graphics objects are merged into real footage in reality (EDUCAUSE 2005). Unlike virtual reality, it does not create a simulation of reality. Instead, it takes a real object or space as the foundation and incorporates technologies that add related data to deepen a person’s understanding of the subject. In other words, this means that Augmented reality creates a simulation based on real-time objects and space instead of creating a virtual world which would be totally different.

The technology development for augmented reality systems has been maturing after years of hard work by technology related companies such as Total Immersion as well as universities. Companies such as Nissan and LEGO have already been testing it on the market. For example, LEGO has imprinted an AR barcode on the casing of the toy. Thus, consumers can have a sneak peek of what the blocks would look like after it has been set up. The simulation shown would have a 360 degrees view of it top to bottom and inside out. Besides using the Head-Mounted Display which is of course presents the best visuals, common optics such as webcams or even cell phone cameras could now present the visual effects of AR. The latest products with such capabilities would be iPhone and the android phones such as HTC Aria.

After viewing the videos shown, what do you think about AR? It is impressive or what? Is it persuasive enough to make you wanting to buy the products above or would you like the usual dull leaflet instead? This technology would be incredibly attractive for younger consumers as they would be more easily attracted by this new technology.

Therefore, uses of this in education are inevitably important. Think of it this way, if there would be not just normal text books, but books with 3D graphics or video visual popping out from the text book. Wouldn’t you wish you could have a book like that in your schooling years? Now, it is all possible.

Reference list:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/mar/21/augmented-reality-iphone-advertising

http://www.t-immersion.com/

http://io9.com/5305769/more-augmented-reality-software-that-will-change-the-future

http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7007.pdf

http://www.tech-faq.com/augmented-reality.html

http://www.brandrepublic.com/News/914752/Behind-scenes-BMWs-augmented-reality-campaign/?DCMP=ILC-SEARCH

Research Objectives

Halo everyone,  

In previous posts, we start by just a brief introduction about our working title, by what augmented reality is. Now, I would like to go further to be more specific about it.

In this topic, we will focus on:

(i)                  What exactly Augmented reality is, and how it is made for example like what kind of software?

(ii)                Augmented reality applications in different field, for example like in business (e-commerce), manufacturing line, education and entertainment.

(iii)               Issue of Augmented reality such like the effectiveness and challenges of it.

Hence, our research objective is:

• To understand how augmented reality is functioned.
• To find out how can it contribute to the society especially in business fields.
• To analyse the issues, strategies and future direction of augmented reality.

We hope that through out the process of discovering the topics on augmented reality, we can gain more understanding and knowledge by discussing and also your important feedbacks. Do feel free stop by and give us your thoughts and comments.

What is Augmented Reality?

In this first post, I would first like to introduce Augmented Reality. This is a new technology only used in recent years. It involves the overlay of computer graphics on the real world. For example, the user sees real environment and combines virtual with real, thus creating a virtually simulated environment inside a real space.

This technology has brought convenience to us in many ways. For examples of studies and professional training, such as military training, engineering design, robotics and Telerobotics.

Either these worlds are very basic such as the environments created for entertainment and gaming, or the system that can create a more realistic environment has a million dollar investments such as flight simulators used for pilot training or even surgical training for doctors, which certain mistakes may cause fatal results.

From my point of view, this creation would be a breakthrough of technology and its contributions would be uncountable. Therefore, stay tuned for more information on this topic.

Here are example of video about augmented reality in real life. Enjoy! ^^

In e-commerce,

A late greeting from us!

HELLO EVERYONE~!

I am Hui Tze, and my group member is Kelvin. We both are doing bachelor of business in accounting.

OK~! I KNOW THAT WE START THIS REALLY REALLY LATE,   >.<!!  We are so sorry about that, seriously. We’re trying to work it out anyway.  Although it may be not a good start (which delay for such a long time), BUT PLEASE, DO COME BACK TO US~~!

We hope that we can learn more about E-commerce with each other through out the semester ya!

The topic we have chosen is Augmented Reality. Have all of you heard of this before?

Some of you might have, some might not. As for us, we never heard of it! HA HA!

We are interested in this topic as this is a fresh technology that has been developing for many years yet not much known by the general public until recent years.

We hope that our posts on this blog can help all readers to understand more on Augmented Reality, their history and their fascinating contributions to our world. We would be focusing mainly on their uses and commercial contributions which are being used recently. This is because we ought to be catching up with the advancing technology. We do not want to be dropped-out do we?

We look forward to learning more about this topic as we go along.

p/s:  the end of the holidays    : (