Tag: augmented reality technology

Augmented reality television combines TV and web content

| February 7, 2014

A new San Francisco startup is enhancing the way that programming will be experienced by viewers.

A startup called SeeSpace, that is based in San Francisco, is now pursuing a new venture called InAir that would bring television together with web content in a highly unique way that uses augmented reality.

This would provide a virtually seamless and highly informational viewing experience.

This would function by presenting television programming alongside web content related to what was being seen. For example, Through the use of augmented reality, a viewer would be able to enjoy a program that talked about the Mars colony that is being planned for the near future, and could simultaneously access information from the official Mars One human settlement website.

The team behind InAir believes that this augmented reality experience could eliminate the need for second screens.

This method of presenting both kinds of content at the same time could reduce or eliminate the need for a viewer to need to use additional devices such as smartphones, tablets, or laptops in order to obtain information about a show that they are currently viewing. Portable and mobile devices have made this type of multitasking a very popular activity while watching television, and this new technology could help to make it easier and more direct.

SeeSpace is referring to the InAir service as the first augmented television experience because it would be the first one to use the technology in its truest sense. Combining the use of the service with a 3D television would make it possible for the additional content to appear to float in front of the television screen, while the program continues to be displayed as usual. This would give a type of layered experience, where the additional information is shown in front of the regularly playing program.

When combined with Leap Motion, Kinect, or a free Android or iOS app, it would allow the augmented reality content to be manipulated with simple hand gestures from the viewers. Furthermore, InAir will also have a software development kit (SDK) that will give mobile development companies and experts the chance to broaden the capabilities of the service.

Augmented reality launched on buses in Scotland

| February 3, 2014

Passengers on public transit in Aberdeen are now taking advantage of new technology based entertainment.

Commuters taking the public transit buses in Aberdeen, Scotland now have a brand new augmented reality experience available to them that will allow them to gain a great deal more entertainment out of their rides.Scotland Buses - Augmented Reality

Through the use of mobile devices, they can now enjoy high tech entertainment while onboard.

Using smartphones and tablets, passengers on these Scottish are able to open up an interactive video channel that gives the viewer the choice to view a range of different content, including information about the transit services, interviews with staff, movie trailers, and even the ability to purchase tickets or surf the web.

There are 35 First Aberdeen buses that have been equipped with this augmented reality feature.

To make this service more readily available to a larger number of mobile devices, the buses also feature free WiFi for riders. This initiative has been generating a considerable amount of activity from passengers. In fact, since it first launched in November, there have been thousands of individuals who have accessed the content available through this AR channel.

All that riders need to do to access the AR material is to follow the instructions on the bus seat backs for downloading the free First Scotland app from Google Play or the Apple App Store. The app makes it possible to aim the mobile device at the seat back to trigger the video channel so that it can be streamed into the smartphone or tablet.

According to the General Manager of First Aberdeen, Duncan Cameron, “Our new augmented reality channel brings our seat backs to life and I hope makes bus travel that little bit more interesting and enjoyable.” He also went on to say that the transit system believes that they are the first company of that nature around the globe that has implemented AR tech on the backs of bus seats in order to help to encourage ridership on their vehicles. The sheer number of uses that the feature has seen until now has revealed the type of interest that this can, indeed, draw.