Yesterday, TechCrunch reported that Ogmento received a significant amount of VC funding - the first augmented reality gaming company to achieve this. For those of you who do not know, augmented reality is "a term for a live direct or indirect view of a physical real-world environment who elements are augmented by virtual computer-generated imagery." (Wiki!)
I recently saw a cool start-up utilizing this technology. Users have to download the company's software, which serves as a reader. They print business cards that when you hold it up to the reader, it reflects an AR. The founder showed me his business card. His standard information was on the front, and on the back was a blotchy pattern, similar to Rorschach Inkblot Test. When I held the card up to the camera on his Macbook, the patterns caused different things to jump out of the screen including photos and his CV. A diffusion of this technology through network effects would be necessary for this concept to catch on, but in itself, it is a pretty cool technology. If people could utilize an app on their phones as readers, it would be a great way to be able to access more information about a person off of their business card using augmented reality.
Other cool uses of augmented reality:
One Japanese company enabled women to try on makeup using an augmented reality mirror.Wikitude allows users to overlay information onto photographs and maps (see photo above).Pocket Universe is an app that gives users information about constellations and planets by holder their iphones to the sky. And many apps are now available (I use Layar), that show users the bars and restaurants on a live map on their phone.
I think this technology will drastically change many of our daily activities including dining, traveling, and doing business. It has had a marked effect on the gaming industry. What will be next?
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