Augmented reality

The principle of augmented reality is based on the use of the computer to superimpose artificial objects in the real world view, whether directly or reproduced by the media.

It was now very common in movies where creatures made by modeling studios are mixed with the actors in the final view.

But it is in terms of increasing reality in real time where the prospects seem the most impressive.

Film and video

The simplest example is to superimpose images, for examples of advertisements in videos, on the walls of particular buildings.

The Zunavision process allows you to insert photos or videos in a video.

Some examples of films and series where artificial beings appear:

Augmented reality is becoming common in movies.

Zunavision

Stanford University proposes a new process, easier to put pictures in videos, for example, add the walls of buildings.

A group of researchers specializing in artificial interlligence has developed a program that reaches that result in a simple way, they called their method the ZunaVision.

The algorithm of processing the original video is called 3D Surface Tracker Technology. It can accommodate objects that pass before the surface where the image is placed encrusted and thus hide the parts of them when something passes by.

A video shows how to add advertisements for the brand Pepsi. User doubt of interest to add advertisements where there is none, but for advertisers, it's different. Here is an ingenious way to expand advertising by placing ads on the walls in films, even the oldest! The process is not limited to advertising but you can also insert a video on a flat surface within another video.

The video

Source Standford University.

Contact Lenses

Augmented reality through lenses reveals information on the surface of the lens.
A layer is composed of polymers that correct the vision. To these are added  circuits of control, communication, and a tiny antenna using a source of energy without wires. The image superimposed on the real world is formed by a network of LED reconstructing words or objects.
In September 2009, prototypes were tested on animals.

Using a webcam

The principle is to place a camera toward the player. His image will be reproduced on the screen and his movements come into interaction with the character in the game. The player may also draw objects in front of  the camera, which will enter the game.

This principle has been put into practice by Sony with its EyePet.

Real time and glasses

This is the future and this is to wear glasses or contact lenses connected to a computer system capable of adding images related to the environment (as in the video Life 2.0).

This can range from simple messages, graphically or textually, to more developed characters talking and acting as being real or a veneer added to the characters and real objects to change their appearance.

This idea is put into practice by Second Sight, which creates an artificial retina with glasses and a camera to restore sight to the blind.

The Vuzixs company already offers glasses for $ 2000 displaying 3D images superimposed in the real world. They are equipped with cameras and coupled to a computer to create virtual elements.

Point and Find from Nokia

Nokia combines  in mobile phones form recognition with augmented reality.

The software identifies an object when we point the camera to it, or the logo of a company on a billboard or advertising, and associate it with the GPS device to locate a place, then display information, in text or images, to provide data useful in this place.
We can also point to a barcode, and through research in a database to compare the price with that charged by other stores.
By pointing the camera at objects of the environment, we can thus learn about them: it goes further than what provide search engines!

Diminushed Reality

The name was given to a technology that removes objects on a video in less than 40 ms. An operator just needs to surround an object to make it disappear. Developed at the Ilmenau University of Technology in Germany, it allows us now to live in a world rid of all unnecessary objects. Google Street View already uses a such algorithm to remove people and keeping only the buildings.

Applications of Diminushed Reality are in fact numerous. Changing the interior decorating in a house virtually before completion, making films in place and selecting what one want to keep in the image, etc. ...
It should appear soon on mobiles to complete augmented reality.

Videos : Google will build Nokia's glasses

Virtual glasses

Google will make the virtual glasses of Nokia.
More precisely, where Nokia is happy to make a futuristic video without providing any product, Google is actually making the product in question. There is also a video, but it is less attractive than that of Nokia (on the right). The two companies should join forces, one for products, one for promoting!

More