Augmented reality mobile coupons

This iPhone application developed by Mobile Arts Lab (Dentsu) allows you to physically catch Augmented reality coupons based on your location , using the phone’s accelerometer, GPS and camera features. Butterflies representing virtual coupons appear as you pan around the scene, and once in frame can be ‘caught’ by making a swooping motion with your phone, like catching them in a net.

This is an interesting use of augmented reality to engage users in a more active role vs passively watching an effect on a screen. Catching and finding coupons in real-time makes it feel like a game. The location based aspect of this idea also allows the advertiser to target users with location specific and relevant deals.

Augmented reality + live video conferencing

Zugara have just released an Augmented reality prototype called ‘ZugSTAR’ (ZUGara STreaming AR) that combines live video conferencing. This allows people in different locations to have a shared AR experience via a browser-based video conferencing system. This is interesting as it further amplifies the social and collaborative potential of AR technology.

AR.Drone – Wi-Fi Quadricopter

The AR.Drone is a wi-fi quadricopter that can be controlled by an iPhone and iPod touch to play Augmented Reality games. The developer Parrot has also released an Open API platform to allow developers to build games for the device which is due to be released some time this year.

Google goggles

Google has been developing augmented reality for mobile using the Android platform for some time now. They’re currently testing the product called ‘Goggles’ which will let you take a photo of a place and return related search from Google.

Augmented reality projection tracking

An augmented reality projection tracking system created by Zach Lieberman and Marco Tempest for the ‘Virtual magician’.

Stella Artois Le Bar guide

It’s a shame this app didn’t work when I tried installing it. Otherwise its a pretty comprehensive iPhone app by Stella Artois that lets you use AR to search for the best bars nearby that serve Stella, via zip code, country or rating.

Mobile AR for events

Here’s an example of a useful mobile augmented reality application developed by Zehnder on the Layar browser for Android smart phones and iPhone 3GS. It was created for festival goers attending a music event to get information about performances taking place around the grounds and locate services like restrooms, ATM’s, entrances and other amenities at the venue.

AR shopping online

RichRelevance is the first to use Zugara’s Webcam AR shopping app in an online retail setting by launching ‘Fashionista’ today with online clothier Tobi.com. Read more here.

Silly AR Ghost Game for iPhone

There’s been a recent rush of AR games on the iPhone, most with not-very-impressive graphics, but kind of fun all the same — and show some of the potential of using AR on the iPhone.

Here’s a ghost-hunting game called ARGH (Augmented Reality Ghost Hunter) that’s GPS-based and time-specific.  It’s kind of fun and it makes you look silly while you go around using your “paranormal goggles” (aka iPhone) to find the ghosts.

It is reminiscent of this Nintendo AR game.

Read more on Laughing Squid and the official site.

Augmented Reality 3D games

I meant to post this a while ago, but here’s another example of a branded AR experiences by French company Dassault Systems for Nestle. This is a promotion around the new movie ‘Arthur and the revenge of Maltazard’ built using Dassault’s 3DVIA Virtools platform.
Transform your cereal box into a 3D augmented reality videogame!