Augmented Reality for Me, for You, for the Kids!

Posted by wale_ogundipe on Thursday, Apr 29, 2010

Augmented Reality has always been considered an option for mass consumption, but, now, more than ever, augmented reality projects are the kind that will make a buck. And two projects suggest that those who pay that buck will get their money’s worth.

In Europe, CINeSPACE researchers are testing out goggles that will enable wearers to experience areas of cities as they’re depicted in films. Imagine walking down a Paris street while experiencing the ending of Jean-Luc Godard’s ‘Breathless.’. Or while experiencing that Cobra attack scene from that GI Joe movie.

Also getting real, augmented-style: GI Joe. Augtopia is an action figure set that allows users to engage with a virtual environment, displayed on their computer screens. Talk about bringing a new dimension to playing in the sandbox). And it doesn’t involve a movie tie-in or Burger King.

Augtopia was developed at NYU’s Interactive Telecommunications Program, breeding grounds to other awesome projects such as Pac Manhattan. Yes, that is correct: Pac Manhattan used to let you run the streets of New York as the P-man himself or as one of those pesky ghosts. Unfortunately, not all good futuristic interactive experiments last. Let’s hope that Augtopia is one of those good things that endures.

See Motherboard’s documentary about ITP’s awesome 2009 ‘Winter Show’.

via ScienceDaily. image via CINeSPACE.