AR Weekly Digest #55

1. iPhone App Turns Your Windshield into Navigation Screen

GPS navigators are great when it comes to navigating unfamiliar cities, but it can be difficult for drivers to focus on the road when they are trying to read directions on a device at the same time. Now, however, Hudway, a free iPhone app (coming for Android by February of next year), projects driving directions onto your windshield. The app claims to make using a GPS device safer while driving.

The app puts augmented reality details on the windshield, including driving instructions, speed and distance until sharp turns. It is designed for driving at night and in impaired weather conditions.

Hudway works with Google Maps. In order to create your rout, you need to build a route on the map first, which the app then preloads so it can be used offline.After that you need to place your phone on the dashboard and secure it in some way, enabling the app to beam a visual of the road onto the windscreen along with speed and distance data.

What’s even more interesting about Hudway is that it is a free app for the time being with an option to upgrade to Pro version for $1.99.

URL: http://www.hudwayapp.com/

2. New Market Reports Make Forecasts for Augmented Reality Industry

Over recent weeks there were two major market analysis been published.

Juniper Research in its report, Mobile Augmented Reality: Smartphones, Tablets and Smart Glasses 2013-2018, forecasts that nearly 200 million unique users across smartphones, tablets and smart glasses will utilize Augmented Reality apps by 2018. This will be a significant increase over the 60 million unique users forecast this year, with the majority of these users found in North America, Western Europe or the developed East Asian countries. Initial innovations will stem from games, but the technology will expand to include lifestyle and fitness apps.

According to the second report, Virtual Reality & Augmented Reality Market – by Technology, by Sensors & Components, by Applications, by Geography (2013 – 2018), done by MarketsandMarkets global dedicated devices augmented reality market is expected to reach $659.98 million by 2018, whereas the immersive virtual reality market is expected to reach $407.51 million by 2018.

The main driving forces for increased demand in virtual reality and augmented reality technology are education, healthcare and m-commerce industries according to the report. The augmented reality and virtual reality technology will be used to contribute to the projects with smart innovations in future due to its great fascination and potential.

3. Google Announces New Version its Glass to Come up in 2 Months

Google team posted news and photos regarding new version of Google Glass featuring a mono earbud, saying that Glass ‘Explorers’ would be getting the revamped model later this year. Additionally, the company is working on custom frames for Google Glass to suit your style and/or prescription.

First explorers of the device will soon be able to trade in their “old” hardware for a new.

Another news from Google is that the early adopters will soon be able to invite up to three of their lucky friends to try out Glass. Of course, it will cost those friends $1500 for the hardware, but there’s no shortage of people who want to try out Glass. So if you know anyone with Google Glass, start preparing ground for invite staring today! The public version of Google Glass is expected to be available sometime in 2014.

URL: http://www.roadtovr.com/new-version-google-glass-mono-earbud-coming-explorers-within-two-months

4. Augmented Reality Installation in the Center of Paris

Last month an impressive augmented reality installation could be seen at Forum des Halles in Paris as a part of the Fête de la Science, France’s national science week, which gathered together CNES and 14 science organizations. This year they put on Sciences au Carré(e), an event designed to appeal to a broad public from 17 to 19 October, bringing together some 100 scientists outside the traditional walls of the laboratory to present a range of topics including space, energy, the environment and health through a range of fun science activities. Climate change topic was presented with an AR installation, which allowed the public to immerse in the savannah, travel to Mars and slide on the ice!

URL: http://www.augmented-reality.fr/2013/10/sciences-au-carree-en-realite-augmentee-au-forum-des-halles

5. Augmented Reality Vision for Visually Impaired

Researchers at the University of Oxford created augmented reality based technology that can provide individuals with the ability to see when they have previously been legally blind. Smart glasses are declared to elevate the vision abilities of people suffering from impaired vision issues, though this will not actually provide perfect vision for completely blind people, but it could elevate the seeing abilities of people who have some level of vision.

Augmented reality glasses include a camera along with an infrared projector that helps detect people and assessed distance. As the camera of these glasses ‘sees’ any people, object and things in front of it, it displays these new images on the transparent OLED lenses. This resulting overlay is very contrast. In addition, these images can use a color which works best for the specific wearer. These glasses function along with a gyroscope, GPS system and compass, that are installed within them to provide a greater amount of data.

URL: http://www.mobilecommercepress.com/augmented-reality-offer-sight-visually-impaired/859381/

6. Marriott Hotels Take Advantage of Augmented Reality Marketing Opportunities

Famous hotel chain Marriott is pairing a futuristic redesign of its hotel lobbies, replete with tech-enabled work spaces, with an AR ad in Wired magazine, part of its Travel Brilliantly campaign that is “re-imagining the future of travel.”

Marriott is promoting the fact that it is innovative and this time the company included augmented reality in print ads. The ad includes a Blippar image in the top right corner that invites readers to download an app to view exclusive content. When readers open the app and scan the page, a video pops up showing a number of different innovations and experiences at Marriott Hotels.

“More than just a picture, this campaign truly captures the look and feel of the Marriott brand,” said Lisa Hu, New York-based United States vice president and general manager at Blippar.

By adding the augmented reality video to the print ad, Marriott Hotels engages readers in ways that would not have been possible with a static, traditional print ad alone.

URL: http://www.mobilemarketer.com/cms/news/software-technology/16391.html

AR applications:

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Augmented Pixels

3D Augmented Reality Solutions

http://augmentedpixels.com/

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