An augmented view of reality
April 19, 2010 —
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If you are someone who sometimes has a hard time getting a grasp of reality, developments in technology have now enabled developers to augment it, making things a little easier. The up-and-coming mashup technology known as Augmented Reality has gotten a lot of buzz in the past year, particularly around location-based applications.
Describing the technology as a “digital overlay of the real world,” Gartner analyst Jackie Fenn also believes it to be a manifestation of heads-up displays, such as those used in commercial aircraft, which allow someone to view additional information without taking their eyes off what's in front of them. Software development consultant and writer of SD Times' Windows & .NET Watch column Larry O’Brien even went so far as to say it is an extension of What You See Is What You Get, meaning AR is an addition to what the end user sees.
In its essence, though, AR is a live view of the physical environment with computer-generated features layered on top, making whatever the user is looking at more interactive and digitally usable.
With higher-quality cameras, GPS systems and image recognition capabilities, smartphones such as the Android and iPhone have helped usher in AR applications and technology. Because of these mobile advancements, Fenn said, she has seen more experimentation with AR, and noted there is certainly “a lot of hype and excitement” surrounding it.
The biggest groundswell of AR apps is seen in the development of location-based applications. Real estate, tourist and astronomy apps have already started to implement this technology, and although AR’s business value and role have not yet been completely defined, one real estate agency has found the technology to be especially complementary to its business.
Web-based real-estate agency ZipRealty introduced in February an iPhone app that uses AR technology. Developed in-house, the app, called HomeScan, puts market information into their customers’ hands when they are out and about, said Leslie Tyler, ZipRealty’s vice president of marketing. HomeScan shows asking and sale prices of homes, along with photos, price estimates and other details. It offers “immediate gratification,” she said.
Related Search Term(s): augmented reality, mobile development
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