AR-B-Q

Some things are quite easy to imagine: me, in front of a plate with a juicy steak on it, with frolicing potatoes dancing hand in hand with fresh salad around that splendid specimen of meat. No problem. But what about an outdoor kitchen in my garden? Besides the fact that I only have a balcony in the middle of Giesing (represent!) it would be very hard to get an impression of such a context sensitive and solid element in an outdoor living environment before I have decided to buy and integrate it. Especially with regards to the many configurations, constellations, materials and functions of such a product. In correspondence to the infinite creativity of nature, architects and gardeners. But of course an augmented reality tool comes to the rescue:  YOUReality allows you to configure your individual outdor kitchen and to integrate it directly into a picture of your own garden. Augmented Sales at its best! And I think it will help to “sell outdoor kitchens better” as they say in their slogan… What do you think?

And… Errrr, this self adulation these product presentation news has been brought to you by the technology provider: metaio.

Daily Mirror

Again, one of those recent augmented reality measures where I have been neither to lazy nor to fine to cover. I just think, every reader has seen plug into the smart grid by Goodby, Silverstein somewhere else. If not, do your homework! But the above “Save the trees reddit” needs a voice. At least mine. Really love the approach and somehow these augmented things tend to be adaptive enough for user genreated content. Isn´t this pre-generation-Y-activist-show-the-kids-how-to-rethink-stuff activist an example of pure involvement? Let me quote: “GE has this spiffy augmented reality site that advocates greener energy. The problem? To experience the spiffiness, they ask you to wastefully print out an image on a piece of paper! Well, in the interest of the trees, here I am accomplishing the same thing with a mirror. Take that GE! ”

Nothing to add.

Before The Game Is Over

Here´s a very interesting work by Cati Vaucelle from MIT, done together with artists Shada / Jahn . Fully aware, within their intro and documentation, that there are addicted WOW players out there – and this is not common sense talking about a life threatening addiction rather than “played a little too much recently” – they have designed “an immersive architectural solution for the advanced WOW (World of Warcraft) player that provides and anticipates all life needs.” The WOW Pod is a very creative, playful but still serious approach to gaming, because it deals with the materialistic resources of gamers. Their avatars – individually designed, powerful, ultimate fighting and travelling machines – never get tired or hungry. So do the people on the other side of the screen. But lunch breaks can break the neck of your level 78 paladin, because untill now the system is mostly unaware of its most important component, the human being. Awareness beyond keyboard input is one of the most interesting topics of the future. Especially keeping in mind, that real and virtual worlds are on their way to melt together…

One nice idea dealing with this big issue of system awareness presented, is the snack packs (see foto with barcode o the pack), which can be scanned and cooked (!) within the WOW Pod. Finally there is an alert within the game, that lunch is ready (no triangle, no Mummy yelling, but a cool slogan by the character) . “When the food is ready, the system automatically puts the character in AFK (‘Away From Keyboard’) mode to provide the gamer a moment to eat. ” And maybe you could even go one step further, that there is a decent period in the game where (virtual) you are in a blue glow while (real) you are eating and can´t be harmed. You shouldn´t cheat, just eat, of course

The toilet within that WOW Pod maybe is not the best idea (can not be implemented to productive and sexy systems) but the project obviously is not intended to be marketed or whatever. It`s mind opening to the many challenges and chances for developing immersive experiences. Usability experts, game designers, sociologists, parents, gamers, almost everybody can and should be integrated to this discourse. It is not only about polygons, performance and power. Real-virtual-augmented-immersive-world-games-one-day-concepts will have to be more aware, than the old school. What needs are there, how can we track them, how can systems react … Maybe the term serious games should be implemented also to the ”pure fun” games, thus taking all this basical needs-stuff more serious. Nintendo is on a good way, when the system asks you for a little break from time to time when you are playing it.

“Please, do not use me for an hour or two”.

Orlando Calling

Ori, my good old virtual neighbour (and no, we are not an odd couple)  drew my attention to the call for papers at this year´s ISMAR, the world leading event for augmented reality. As it  targets well beyond the typical research papers audience and into interactive media and art folks, everybody should check out opportunities and send in proposals. Of course they should somehow relate to the interface between real and virtual. So this could be interesting, not this!

FNA!!!

Project: 2020

Kathrin Hepburn once said: if you want to be the star of the party, don´t go there. So maybe this is what I meant when i did not write something about The Sixth Sense… This demo was the absent star of my blog. Gosh, what a cryptic introduction. Anyway, I just did not refer to this, simply because I thought everybody has seen it anyway. But now, with honorable Mac Funamizu´s new breathtaking ideas and brilliant layouts this has changed. I have to mention him, thus I have to tell the whole story. The concept namely combines many tricky aspects of augmented reality, but with regards to wearability and ubiquity it is the way we go. So let´s leave out all the questions of availability (and data base connection) and feasibility (price concept?, brrrr…) or the other ugly sisters of inventions. And stroll through petinventions.

Word Up!

Ori, the jack off all trades, the augmented reality evangelist, has something to say. Listen carefully:

http://gamesalfresco.com/2009/03/09/augmented-reality-today-ori-inbar-speaks-at-warm-2009/

Want Mainstream?

In the online issue of renowned german newspaper FAZ there is an article about Mr. Arnold Schwarzenegger and german chancellor Angela Merkel strolling through this year´s CeBIT. The governor is representing California as this year´s special guest of the world´s biggest IT-fair. And guess what! They stopped at the DIGITAL BOX demo by LEGO and metaio! What a great picture. We are really proud and it definetely is another – yet very powerful – sign for the relevance of visually strong and innovative information design. Man, I can´t believe it. The Governator!

I`ll be back…