Real Virtual Pets

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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.

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.

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.

(EyePET via FreshCreation and YouTube)