This AR technology has been used by TexTales so that it can be woven right into the child’s bedding.

TexTales is a newly launched product out of Eindhoven in the Netherlands, which uses augmented reality for kids worked into sets of bed sheets for children, so that they can bring bedtime stories to life.

The images appear to come alive directly out of the printed patterns on their bedding.

When a tablet or a smartphone is directed at the bed sheets with this augmented reality for kids, the bedding displays three dimensional images of fairy tale characters. When the sheets are purchased, they come with a free accompanying app that gives parents the ability to either play pre-existing stories or to create their own special stories. These can then be played for their children during playtime or before bedtime.

The images that are created on the fabric are recognized by special software using augmented reality for kids.

When the app is open and the device is aimed at the images on the sheets, the custom made software detects these specific images and activates various elements, allowing parents and children to be able to interact with those images, that appear to move around on the screen.

The TexTales app is compatible with devices based on Android 2.3 and higher, as well as those based on iOS 5 and higher. To work with the AR technology, they have to be equipped with a rear-facing camera. This product was developed based on another project that had been previously pursued by Kristi Kuusk. It is considered to be a collaborative venture among studio Toer, Unit040, Johan van den Acker Textielfabriek, and the Eindhoven University of Technology. It is also part of a greater project which is known as CRISP Smart Textile Services.

In order to be able to raise the funds to create the sheets with augmented reality for kids, and to be able to develop the project so that it would be possible to create more characters and stories, TexTales launched a Kickstarter campaign. This allowed them to custom create the software necessary for these added elements.

Mobile shopping hits a new high

Mobile commerce has erupted during Thanksgiving and Black Friday, aligning with the expectations coming from many retailers throughout the U.S. and elsewhere. Branding Brands, a leading commerce firm representing some of the world’s top retailers, has issued a report concerning mobile sales, traffic, and general mobile activity during the year’s most active shopping days. The report notes that mobile sales showed astonishing growth this year over what they had been in 2012, providing strong encouragement for retailers that have invested heavily in mobile-centric endeavors.

Data shows that mobile traffic has grown rapidly

According to Branding Brands, mobile traffic to retail sites increased by 69% over what had been recorded during Thanksgiving and Black Friday of 2012. The data collected by Branding Brands suggests that smartphones were the most widely used mobile platform for shoppers this year. Approximately 32.56% of all e-commerce traffic to retail sites came from smartphones this year, with tablets following closely behind.

Mobile sales increase by 258%

Traffic is not the only aspect of mobile commerce that has been showing impressive growth during the holidays. According to Branding Brands, mobile sales have exploded thanks to the mobile initiatives launched by retailers. These initiatives were meant to capture the attention of mobile consumers, many of whom were expected to purchase products during Thanksgiving and Black Friday from their mobile devices rather than visit physical stores. Branding Brands’ data shows that mobile sales for 2013 have increase by 258% over what had been reported by retailers in 2012.

Adobe highlights growing interest in mobile commerce

Technology firm Adobe has also been monitoring mobile activity recently. The firm has collected data from more than 400 million online visits to over 2,000 retail sites throughout the U.S. This data shows that 24% of all online sales were made from a smartphone or tablet during Thanksgiving and Black Friday, a 118% increase over what sales had been in 2012.