Steve Jan » Augmented Reality

Minority Report Style Sales Interface

admin — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 17:57:31 +0000

From time to time we come across some interesting technology that has the potential to revolutionize industries.The 3 Live Shop from Sweden, could potentially be one of those technologies, this customer service and sales experience brings real time to a whole new level. Developed by B-REEL, Teenage Enginering and Isotop this really is Minority Report stuff with touch screen technology that allows sales agents to drag, drop and scale content and explore multiple options with customers. This technology has the potential to streamline and truly transform the customers service and sales experience.

DIY 3D Interface

admin — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 23:54:05 +0000

Here is a great example of a 3D hand-position sensing system that most people can build, while still preserving some semblance of functionality. To get an idea of possible applications, check out the demo video below.

Make one for yourself: instructables.com/id/DIY-3D-Controller/

Sony Introduces 360-Degree Autostereoscopic Display

admin — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 20:50:04 +0000

AtÂ Siggraph 2010 in Los Angeles, Sony showcased the prototype of its 360-degree Autostereoscopic Display. Autostereoscopic technology is considered to be the future of 3D, and does not require special 3D glasses. The device, known as the Ray Modeler, is cylindrical in shape and features LED light sources to enable viewing of full color volumetric objects from all directions. It also allows users to control the displayâ€™s orientation with hand gestures.

Sony says that the Ray Modeler will have applications in digital signage, video games and futuristic telecommunication.

Hereâ€™s the launch video from Sony:

Augmented Computing

admin — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 16:34:29 +0000

Augmented reality (AR) is a term for a live direct or indirect view of a physical real-world environment whose elements are augmented by virtual computer-generated imagery. It is related to a more general concept called mediated reality in which a view of reality is modified (possibly even diminished rather than augmented) by a computer. As a result, the technology functions by enhancing oneâ€™s current perception of reality.

In the case of Augmented Reality, the augmentation is conventionally in real-time and in semantic context with environmental elements, such as sports scores on TV during a match. With the help of advanced AR technology (e.g. adding computer vision and object recognition) the information about the surrounding real world of the user becomes interactive and digitally usable. Artificial information about the environment and the objects in it can be stored and retrieved as an information layer on top of the real world view. The term augmented reality is believed to have been coined in 1990 by Thomas Caudell, an employee of Boeing at the time.

Augmented reality research explores the application of computer-generated imagery in live-video streams as a way to expand the real-world. Advanced research includes use of head-mounted displays and virtual retinal displays for visualization purposes, and construction of controlled environments containing any number of sensors and actuators.

3D Augmented Reality experience with depth-sensing cameras (Video)

admin — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 17:55:34 +0000

This video illustrates YDreamsâ€™ augmented-reality platform with depth-sensing cameras. The camera used makes it possible to pinpoint the 3D position of the users (it supports multiple users) and objects in the environment, allowing for a true marker less augmented reality experience. The virtual objects added in the video stream react to the user as well as the real objectsÂ´ positions and movements.

Unlike similar applications that use 2D cameras, this one is not sensitive to light changes, camera movements and â€œnoisyâ€ backgrounds. This is a simple demo to exemplify the user experience.

Potential of SixthSense technology

admin — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:14:52 +0000

Retrieving information from the Web when you’re on the go can be a challenge. To make it easier, graduate student Pranav Mistry has developed SixthSense, a device that is worn like a pendant and superÂimposes digital information on the physical world. Unlike previous “augmented reality” systems, Mistry’s consists of inÂexpensive, off-the-shelf hardware. Two cables connect an LED projector and webcam to a Web-enabled mobile phone, but the system can easily be made wireless, says Mistry.

Users control SixthSense with simple hand gestures; putting your fingers and thumbs together to create a picture frame tells the camera to snap a photo, while drawing an @ symbol in the air allows you to check your e-mail. It is also designed to automatically recognize objects and retrieve relevant information: hold up a book, for instance, and the device projects reader ratings from sites like Amazon.com onto its cover. With text-to-speech software and a Bluetooth headset, it can “whisper” the information to you instead.

Remarkably, Mistry developed SixthSense in less than five months, and it costs under $350 to build (not including the phone). Users must currently wear colored “markerÂs” on their fingers so that the system can track their hand gestures, but he is designing algorithms that will enable the phone to recognize them directly.