Microsoft's Augmented Reality, Video Photosynth

Al writes "Microsoft demonstrated new augmented-reality software for cell-phones at the 2009 TechFest conference, which was held this week in Redmond. Instead of using GPS or WiFi triangulation, the prototype system relies entirely on scene-recognition to identify its position and add virtual objects to a video picture of the real world. TechFest is a showcase for lots of projects at Microsoft's various research labs. Other technologies on show included Photosynth for video, an image-tracking system for handwriting, a way of refining image searches using colors, and a 3-D version of Microsoft Surface."

Comments

Rainbows End

[ShakaUVM]

Reminds me of a book I read last month, Rainbows End.

People run around with 3d goggles on that overlays 3d graphics over the real world, for work and fun.

The author lives here in San Diego, so it was fun to hear him talking about people overlaying Terry Pratchett-style graphics over the interstates I drive on all the time.

Re:Rainbows End

[Anonymous Coward]

Many years before i really heard much about AR i thought how it would be cool to have a pair of glasses and a pocket computer that would overlay graphics, always thought it would be cool to play certain games in the real world, like zombie outbreak, imagine how fun and freaky that would be, you might look like silly to anyone around you but eventually it would catch on.

I believe this will be the next big thing since the internet and mobile phones so companies really need to put more effort into bringing it to us.

Reality no longer good enough

[Walaci]

My concern, as Luddite as it sounds, is that it takes us further and further from reality. It augments our perception of what reality really is. Nothing will be satisfying enough unless it has an overlay on it, apparently adding "value", but in reality, detracting from it. Sure there will be benefits from such technology, but everything is a two-edged sword.