Published: September 25, 2008 in future » social by Thomas Baekdal
The whole field of Augmented Reality (where we mix the virtual world with the physical one) is simply mind-boggling. And you don't have to be a scientist to explore its potentials. All you need is a PlayStation 3, and buy the PlayStation Eye, which is basically just a good web camera. What you can then do is to play games like the ones in the video below.
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Even funnier is the upcoming EYEPET. It is a virtual pet that use the PlayStation Eye. With this, you and your virtual pet can play together, almost like it was the real thing. It is a brilliant example of how we can use augmented reality to connect and interact with the virtual world.
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BTW: It is coming out in late-2009.
Another interesting aspect of Augmented Reality is that it allows kids, from around the world, to play together as if they were in the same room. Imagine what would happen if 3 kids, all with a PlayStation Eye, where link together by the internet. Your playground would be a virtual table, but you would be able to see and interact with each other. Combine that with the Wii, and you got social and physical human interaction mixed with the virtual world.
Want to play a game of tennis? In the future the opponent is a friend, living 500 miles away, but will show up on your big-screen TV as a live video feed. The background would be replaced with a virtual playing field. Lacoste predicted that it would take 75 years to do... I think we can do this in less than 5.
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(EyePET via FreshCreation and YouTube)
See; Denno Coil. (mini Review: excelent anime with a very realistic depiction of a near-future were AR is common place and AR pets along with it)
Augmented Reality is the future, but someone really needs to get working on decent HMDs. Possibly using TOLED screens to blend the real and virtual world together.
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Betty
http://adoptpet.info
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Sep 25
2008
Aku
Makes sense. I think one of the next-gen consoles is going to have nothing much except motion sensing tech. If it is implemented right, that would get my money.
Thanks for the summary.