Augmented Reality Applications Connect Data to Your World

When we watch TV news programs and see the text crawl at the bottom of the screen, or an image inset over the shoulder of the newscaster, we are experiencing augmented reality. The logo is not really floating in the air next to the host in the studio, of course. The weather map is not really hovering there next to the weatherperson. The virtual layer of information and graphics is overlayed via computer.

Phones and other mobile devices are now making this technology available to the average citizen. Check out the links and videos below to learn more about this emerging trend. Then start imagining what the world will look like when this technology is embeded in your eye glasses...or in your retina.

DigitalBeat just posted a great roundup of Augmented Reality applications.

The first simulated-AR app for the iPhone is Pocket Universe. Hold your iPhone up to the night sky and see a graphical overlay showing you the names of stars and constellations.

Engadget article: Video: Hands-on with SPRXmobile's Layar augmented reality browser for Android

Layar (see video above) is a free application on your mobile phone which shows what is around you by displaying real time digital information on top of reality through the camera of your mobile phone. Layar is available for the T-Mobile G1, HTC Magic and other Android phones in Android Market for the Netherlands. Other countries will be added later. Planned roll-out dates for other countries are not known yet.

Wikitude.org WIKITUDE World Browser presents the user with data about their surroundings, nearby landmarks, and other points of interest by overlaying information on the real-time camera view of a smart-phone. Available for download through your G1 & G2 phones in the Android Market Place. Coming soon to an iPhone near you!

The Augmented Environments Lab (AEL) is a research group at the Georgia Institute of Technology focused on putting media in the world around people, using a range of techniques from see-through head-worn displays, video-mixed camera phones, spatialized sound, and video projectors. They are interested in exploring the potential of interactive computing environments to directly augment a user’s senses with computer generated material.

The New York Times Prototype section recently published a great article by Leslie Berlin called "Kicking Reality Up a Notch"

DigitalBeat: Augmented reality startups petition Apple for live video interface

Games currently in development are going to blow some minds. Sony PSP owners can now get their hands on Invvizimals. Hold the unit's camera up to your world and it will reveal hidden creatures hiding under your bed. See the video below.