Augmented reality (AR) is a term for a live direct or indirect view of a physical real-world environment whose elements are merged with (or augmented by) virtual computer-generated imagery – creating a mixed reality. The augmentation is conventionally in real-time and in semantic context with environmental elements, such as sports scores on TV during a match. With the help of advanced AR technology (e.g. adding computer vision and object recognition) the information about the surrounding real world of the user becomes interactive and digitally usable.
“Augmented reality is one of a number of new technologies that are going to download into our daily lives next year. So we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see what AR can do.
Over the next week not only will we be experimenting with AR ourselves, but we will also be bringing you the best bits from the web, both practical and dynamic examples of AR, to play with.
Using AR is, thankfully, not rocket science. Simply fire up your computer, activate your webcam and log on to www.wallpaper.com/ar. Click on each of the the tabs on the right and hold up the black and white graphic on the relevant page of W*130. Keep your copy in front of the webcam (taking care to keep the box free of stray digits), wiggle, twist and watch Wallpaper* grow a whole new dimension.”
- Wallpaper*
