Claire Boonstra studied civil engineering at the Technical University of Delft. After her studies she soon left the building industry for the engaging world of New Media. After working at KPN mobile, Unilever and Talpa Digital eventually she started Layar with co-founders Raimo van der Klein & Maarten Lens-FitzGerald, with whom she had also been a part of the team that founded Mobile Mondays Amsterdam. Layar is based in Amsterdam.
Video mapping is an exciting use of technology that brings video projection on 3D-objects (like buildings) to the next level. The difference between normal and video mapped projections is that the projection itself is 3-Dimensional, instead of a 2-Dimensional layer that is projected onto a 3-Dimensional surface. This is done by creating a 3D model of the object on which is being projected, and using this model to add reality to the projection. The video below is the first one I saw that really blew my mind.
This is one good example of AR, which really uses the immersive experience it can cause. The video addresses several social problems in the Netherlands. In a lot of cases of streetviolence a lack of action by bystanders has caused the situation to escalate further then needed. Also, we have seen an increase of violence directed to healthworkers.
For Augmented Reality to really start becoming an immersive experience we’ll need something more then a smartphone to look through. Goggles, or even contact lenses might be the solution. This concept movie found on Games Alfresco shows us what to expect when you first try them on.
This movie blew me away the first time I saw it. Keiichi Matsuda, an architecture student at UCL in London shows us his idea of where Augmented Reality might take us. He calls it Augmented (hyper)Reality. This sure is nicely done and gives a good impression of what some people think is the future of our mixed reality lives. Let’s hope not.
Mijn review van Visible Cities 2 met o.a. Ole Bouman van het NAi is te lezen op de website van ‘de Architect’
Augmented Reality (AR) is een nieuw medium dat zich onlangs heeft aangediend als interessant platform voor architectuur. AR is een methode om digitale data over de fysieke wereld te projecteren. Het NAi loopt op de ontwikkeling vooruit met haar iPhone-applicatie SARA. Deze applicatie maakt het mogelijk om architectuur die (nog) niet gerealiseerd is, of niet meer bestaat te aanschouwen op schaal, in 3D en op locatie. Dit geeft uitgebreide mogelijkheden voor educatie over het verleden en de toekomst van de gebouwde omgeving. Op woensdag 3 maart was Ole Bouman te gast bij het Visible Cities programma in ‘De Verdieping’ bij Trouw Amsterdam.
Augmented Reality today is possible because through the combination of GPS + Compass your location and direction are determined. Data can be added to coördinates, so when your GPS+Compass device is in range of these coördinates it will show this data. The problem is that GPS chips are not very accurate. There is another way.
Google has the streetview technology. If we have software that cross-references images of what you see with this streetview database (kind of like how Shazam cross-references the music you hear with their music-database) we can accurately determine what your position is. Google plans to do so with Google Goggles.
Microsoft is working on similar technology. After Bing Search, they created Bing Maps and Bing Explore and Photosynth. Their getting pretty good at it. With Photosynth microsoft can now create streetview perspective from user-generated content. So Microsoft doesn’t have to drive through every city with a camera mounted to a car, all the photo’s people shoot get synthesized together to make a streetview perspective. What they can do with this? Check it out, it’s amazing.
Augmented Reality is a phenomenon, constructed by fusing many digital technologies together. On this blog I will post updates on these layers of technology that are a part of Augmented Reality, or will be so.
I want to start out by showing you this TED talk by Pranav Mistry. Pranav invented Sixth Sense during his work at the Fluid Interfaces group of MIT’s Media Lab, which is showcased in this movie. I was stunned. So will you be.
Claire Boonstra studied civil engineering at the Technical University of Delft. After her studies she soon left the building industry for the engaging world of New Media. After working at KPN mobile, Unilever and Talpa Digital eventually she started Layar with co-founders Raimo van der Klein & Maarten Lens-FitzGerald, with whom she had also been a part of the team that founded Mobile Mondays Amsterdam. Layar is based in Amsterdam.
