Augmented Reality with Aurusma App

Our ePublishing group met yesterday.  We always have an exhilarating time learning new technology tricks that have application to education and/or innovative use of technology.  Walt demonstrated an amazing augmented reality app, Aurasma.  The web URL for the app is http://www.aurasma.com/

The distinctive feature of the app is that you can create your own augmented reality items.  The app is available for the iPhone, iPad, and Android mobile devices.  The tutorial for use of the app is simple and clear.

To visualize use of the app, to to http://www.aurasma.com/campaigns/

I have embedded a 4-minute YouTube video which provides insight on how this app can be used in education. Enjoy!

Augmented Reality

I am fascinated by the potential of augmented reality (AR).  A couple of weeks ago I attended a presentation where the presenter started showing an iPad/iPhone app using augmented reality. It is more entertaining than pedagogical, but that is okay!  I showed it to some students today and they were amazed! It will be fun to use the app in class as an icebreaker or wake-up strategy.  a video of on the AR figures is shown below.

The app is free - search for String AR and then go to http://www.poweredbystring.com/showcase http://www.poweredbystring.com/showcase for the print targets.  You will need at least a 4generation iPhone or iPad2.  Open the app and then point the camera on the device at one of the four target pictures (either printed out or on the website.  You don't have to be very close to the picture.  The AR figure in the video below is my favorite, followed by the dragon.  You can change the color of the shoe, but only spin it around.  Take a mental break and try out the FUN AR app!

Augmented Reality Update

I just printed the footprint for Sasquatch (see my earlier post).  It was truly unbelievable and just too funny!  Omega, you will have to show Gabby!  The 3D gorilla just pops up!!  You can drag emotions to the timeline and create a movie. Now, if only someone will create something similar for healthcare and the nursing setting. 

Augmented Reality

One of the many intersting sessions that I attended at the Sloan-C, MERLOT, Moodle conference last week was on augmented reality.  Augmented reality is defined as a blend of real life with digital images.

The concept has fascinating implications for the teaching/learning process. Imagine holding a piece of paper with a block like stamp (similar in function to a bar code) on it in front of a computer camera and watching images come to life, allowing you to interact with the images. You probably have encounted the concept, perhaps, not realizing it. If you watch television, you probably have viewed some commercial ads with augmented reality.
One of my favorite web sites is How Stuff Works.  You can learn more about augmented reality at http://www.howstuffworks.com/augmented-reality.htm   There are augmented reality apps for the iPhone (and probably iPad) at http://mashable.com/2009/12/05/augmented-reality-iphone/

Esquire magazine printed an augmented reality issue.  You can view more information from the YouTube site at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wp2z36kKn0s&feature=related

A recent advertisement for Audi cars is a iPhone app calendar.  To view the video, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhPl9NLO4bk

Visit http://livingsasquatch.com/ to print an augmented reality stamp and personalize it.  I plan to experiment with the site this week.

Looking into the Future of Education

Now that my research team and I have submitted two grant proposals, it is time to get back on track with this blog.  I read the EDUCAUSE Horizon reports each year.  The 2010 report provides us a glimpse at the future of education.  The authors note that within:

• This year we will have a wide-scale adoption of mobile computing and open content
• Within the next 2-3 years we will adopt electronic textbooks and "simple augmented reality"
• Within 4-5 years we will adopt "guesture based computing" and "visual data analysis"

Clearly mobile computing is evident on our campuses.  Students and faculty alike depend upon netbooks, smartphones, like the iPhone, Blackberry, and Android to access email, online course content, and electronic resources.  The worldwide economic crisis has sped up the interest in open content.  Open content is a term for online courses that are freely availalble without charge.

Electronic textbooks have increased popularity.  I am currently using 3 electronic textbooks on my laptop.  Electronic textbooks provide the ability to highlight, make notes, and bookmark similar to a paper version.  The perks are the ability to have electronic booksmarks and to have them anytime I need them and have my laptop (everywhere). Simple augmented reality is a feature on many cell phones, for example, the GPS, a digital camera, and the compass on the iPhone. 

Guesture based computing is a term for operating computers using movement of hands, arms, and/or body.  Guesture based computing is used on popular news shows where the news anchor uses their hands and arms to open or close windows on wide screen televisions to show news and weather reports.  The iPhone uses guestures such as a finger swipe, tap and shake.  The Wii has popularize guesture based computing with software for sports and fitness. 

I am really excited about the emergence of visual data analysis, which will allow us to visualize complex data without having to know complex software.  It should prove especially meaningful for healthcare.  I am looking forward to the day that every nurse will have expertise in the analysis of healthcare data to improve the safety, effectiveness, and quality of care provided.