Augmented Reality: Apps & software for the classroom

I'll be demonstrating some useful ways to showcase Augmented Reality (AR) in educational learning environments, which can be useful for future workshops or curriculums you may plan on doing someday. I've included some links to the examples that I will be showcasing:

• Free Augmented Manipulatives
• String - Augmented Reality development (iPhone)

More examples of AR for the iPhone/iPod touch (4th generations with cameras):

• acrosshair
• Word Lens

Augmented Reality in our daily lives?

I found an interesting article from my twitter feed that showcases a video the possibilities of integrating augmented reality (AR) into the real world. It's another video from Keiichi Matsuda (he has an exhibit at the Modern Wing at the AIC). Rather than viewing AR from a mobile device or a computer screen, we can actually see it all around us. Just like the article asks, will this be through special glasses? Will we be the only ones able to see it? It will have to so people nearby don't read our emails or private messages. And another good question, how would AR be displayed, especially the ads littered on the sidewalks from the video? Holograms come into mind and we've already developed certain technologies that incorporate this. How far would this become into a real and usable medium? I can see a lot of potential for this technology, especially in a learning environment (remember this scene in Iron Man 2?).

Augmented Reality Apps for Art Education?

So like I mentioned last Tuesday, AR (Augmented Reality) apps are slowling becoming a possibility for mobile devices, especially among cell phones and portable tablets. I remember seeing the first version early last year where a person with a camera on their phone, mounted on their car dashboard, viewing the cars ahead of them. As the camera shows on the screen (live video) it also shows the average speed, warnings if you get too close or if you're driving to fast, the exact distance between you and the car(s), and more. AR was also shown as a possible game ability, especially in the creature-collecting aspect like Pokemon.

Here is a link that talks about the subject of AR with video examples. Check it out!

• Top 6 Augmented Reality Apps

Today there are several apps out there, some free to try, that incorporate AR with iPhone and Android devices (I recommend doing a search "AR" in the app store). With this capability it would be possible to interact in the real world and have it digitally calibrated or recorded on the phone, say, trips to the museum, art project in class, etc.