Augmented Reality

Augemented reality is a combination of real world and computer-generated data. Augmented reality is not new but we can say that the technic behind it is finally come to a point that companies can use it to promote there products over the internet.


First a small explanation of how it is used with an example of the Walt Disney Website. Guests are asked to print the new marketing poster of "summer nightastic", the new evening shows in Disneyland Anaheim, and then guests should install a small programm. After installing you can open the website (the requirement is that you have a webcam) you see yourself sitting in front of your webcam. When holding the poster in front of the screen, it will turn into a 3d scene. If you move the paper, the scene will move with it. The programm has recognized the poster and knows that he should put a 3d layer of that part of the screen.


Here are a few examples of websites that use augmented reality:


Disneyland Anaheim
As described above, the Disney website will launch a 3d scene with the Disney castle and the Dragon from Fastasmic. A player can interact with the dragon using the keyboard. Click here to see it yourself.


Star Trek
To promote the new star trek movie, the marketing team made also an augmented reality website where guests get a tour around the Enterprise. After the introduction guests can play with the ship by shooting lasers or flying to warp speed. Click here to go to the website.

Assassins creed II
The new game Assassins Creed also uses Augmented Reality to give show some art work. Click here to go to the website and then click on the small logo under videos.

As you can see, augmented reality can be used for these kind of practices but were are still waiting for the real work. At the moment several car dealers are thinking of enhancing their brochures with augmented reality or even lego building boxes. In the store you can see put the lego box in front of the screen and the product can be seen on the box and how it is made. To conclude, a lot of possibilites and we will hear more of this technology.