How to Design Augmented Reality Environments
Augmented reality is an exciting technology that allows you to overlay data and graphics on the physical world. There are two very popular applications that can be downloaded for mobile devices: Wikitude and Layar. Both applications allow you to create your own augmented reality environments, however they work very differently. Nevertheless, with an understanding of latitude and longitude, as well as knowledge of what you would like to create, it is possible to develop an augmented reality environment.
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Instructions
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Define what kind of Point of Interest (POI) you would like to create. Wikitude allows users to create POIs with text or images, whereas Layar allows users to create POIs with three-dimensional models, as well as text and images.
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Determine the latitude and longitude of the POI you would like to create. The latitude and longitude can be found using a GPS device or an online map site, such as MapQuest or Google Maps.
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Create the images for the augmented reality environment POI using a graphics program, such as Illustrator or Photoshop, or create a three-dimensional model for Layar that is saved as a Wavefront (OBJ) file with a modeling program, such as SketchUp, 3ds Max or Blender. Convert the model to Layar3D (L3D) format using the application provided by the Layar developers site given in the resources. The images and models should be 500 kilobytes or smaller, so the mobile device can easily download and display the graphics.
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Enter the latitude, longitude, text and graphics files into the augmented reality application's database. For Wikitude environments, enter the information in to the Wikitude site given in the resources. For Layar environments, you will need to sign up to become a developer with Layar, set up a MySQL database on your own server and create a website that exchanges information with the Layar application. This process is well-documented on the Layar developers site given in the resources.
Alternatively, Layar developers can use a web service, such as Hoppala, for their POIs, instead of creating databases and websites on their own server. This is much easier, but limiting.
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Test the augmented reality environment POIs on your mobile device. The POIs will appear in the mobile application if all information is inserted correctly into the database. Wikitude POIs will be available to the public automatically. In contrast, Layar POIs must be checked by the Layar engineers to ensure the information is correct before the POIs are made public. In either case, you will be able to check the POIs as the developer of the augmented reality environment.
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References
- Photo Credit Creatas Images/Creatas/Getty Images
