Posts Tagged games alfresco
10 Worst Uses of Augmented Reality in 2009
Posted by Tom Carpenter in AR Games, augmented reality on December 20th, 2009
Tis the season to reflect and review the year that’s about the scuttle its caboose into 2010. It’s been a huge year for augmented reality after decades of R&D, finally hitting the public’s awareness. Unfortunately, not all applications of the nascent technology showcased its possibilities. Instead, some slapped it into use without careful forethought and understanding of why augmented reality will be one of the most important technological aspects of our collective futures.
So I present what I believe are the 10 worst uses of augmented reality in 2009. I’m only looking at the commercial applications of AR, because R&D should be given the freedom to test code without stringent use-cases to guide its development. And often the commercial AR was bad because it was rushed onto market in a lame attempt to cash in on growing hype.
10. Hangman
While I never found an actual release of this game, the demo alone at the Tampa Internet and Technology Summit 2009 made me grimace in pain. Hopefully HD Interactive scuttled their AR plans after this demo and redrew their strategy. When I first saw this video, it inspired me to write this post.
9. Firefighter 360
The “360″ in the name is appropriate because you’ll be spinning in circles putting out fires. This app is similar to many others released that have a live camera feed, but don’t actually connect to any real world objects. The fires and firetrucks are reached through a console controller style interface. To really be AR, I would expect players to have to move around.
8. Mosquitoes
The description for the game reads — “This fun game uses the compass and accelerometer for a super realistic ‘augmented reality’ effect.” If you have to use the word super for your game, then you’re probably not going to be successful. If the mosquitoes actually landed on me or I had to move around the room to attack them, that would be cool, but once again the only thing I’m getting out of this game is dizziness.
7. Arcade Reality
Another AR shooter that could be played in a virtual environment for the same effect as the augmented one. They at least get points for multiple game play modes.
6. Dodge Avenger AR Campaign
As Rouli has been chronicling, augmented reality for selling cars jumped the shark last spring. Dodge didn’t get the memo and released this PC based campaign last month.
5. Virtual Makeup
Games Alfresco found this scary gem of an AR video in its Not Ready for Primetime post. We’ve seen lots of compelling try-on kiosks for other products like shirts, hats and jewelry, but turning your customers into scary clowns probably isn’t a great idea.
4. Avon Perfume
I’ll be the first to admit I could be missing something in the translation, but didn’t anyone tell Avon that perfumes smell and augmented reality is primarily about vision? And how many people sit around posing pictures with their perfume bottles.
3. Twitter 360
This one is more about timing and scope than anything. The Twitter 360 app received much press including this spot on the Augmented Planet, but that same week, Layar came out with its 3.0 version which made Twitter layers possible within its browser. The lifespan of these narrowly focused apps are going to become shorter and shorter as the reality browsers and big name companies like Google get into the game.
2. Best Buy Campaign
I could have picked from any number of paper marker based augmented reality campaigns, there were a ton of them this year, but I chose Best Buy from last spring as the unlucky example.
1. Always Feminine Hygiene Ad
An epic fail for so many reasons. Besides being a typical paper-based marker campaign, the use of augmented reality had no tie-in with the feminine hygiene product. The usage was so bad I had to rant about it in July.
There we have it, ten of the worst uses of augmented reality in 2009. While augmented reality is on the rise and many applications are impressive uses of the technology, we still have quite a few stinkers in the bunch. Usually the culprit is misunderstanding of the technology or rushing it to the public without deciding if its actually fixing anything. Blake Collins from OneZeroThrice expanded on this trend in his post about Who is, and Who Isn’t Augmented Reality.
And because I’m a nice guy, if you made it to my 10 worst list or you want to stay off of it for next year, I’m offering up my post about the 10 Things Your AR App Must Have to Succeed to help you mend your errant ways. I wrote it in anticipation of the over-hyped iPhone 3.1 OS, but it can be applied to any usage of the technology. While its certain there are misguided plans hatching at corporate conference rooms all over the world right now that will make us groan and roll our eyes at their attempts at augmented reality, I’m buoyed by the knowledge that it only takes a few proper applications to change the world.
Popularity: 45% [?]
10 Things Your AR App Must Have to Succeed
Posted by Tom Carpenter in AR Games, Steal This AR Idea!, augmented reality on August 23rd, 2009
With the iPhone OS 3.1 launch set to debut next month, I wanted to explore the features that are going to help make some AR apps succeed over others. We’re going to be seeing a spike of releases since many have been working towards this moment waiting for the iPhone to become AR enabled, so its a good time to get those apps in tip-top shape.
And while I’m personally smartphone agnostic, these are features that should be present on any app, no matter what the platform. But the OS3.1 release will connect the hype of AR with the hype of the iPhone, so that’s why we need to talk about app features now. Call it Hype2.0 if you’d like.
And now for the features:
1 – Solutions Not Gimmicks
The best products and services are solutions to a problem. Going to your webcam to open up a 3D version of the product has lost its luster as a tired gimmick. Find a reason that augmented reality can be useful for your customers. And if you’re a car maker looking to use AR, listen to Rouli.
Don’t be like Always, the feminine hygiene company, please…
2 – Social Connections
The reason these social connectors like Twitter and Facebook work is because they allow us to be nosy neighbors seeing what next person is doing. The term “Keeping up with the Jonses” applies here. Give your app a way to connect other people in creative and interesting ways. Even if its seeing the high score along with a picture of you dodging a cannonball.
3 – App Search
Google dominates the search wars because they’re the best at it. Many functions of AR require pulling information from the data sphere and if it gets hijacked by spammers then the app will quickly lose its purpose. No one wants to pull up a restaurant layer to find a nice place to eat in a new town and get a porn layer instead while your three smiling children peer over your shoulder.
4 – Alacrity Wins
I could say apps need to be quick, but they need to be more than that. The Webster’s definition of alacrity is “promptness in response” or “cheerful readiness.” Apps should anticipate what the user wants and get it quickly. If it takes 10 seconds for the camera to identify where its at so you can decide which way to walk, no one is going to use it. If the processor is too slow, move your heavy lifting to servers off the smartphone. Life moves quickly, your app should move at the same pace.
5 – Unique Style
If you want your business to grow, your style should be tasteful and easily recognizable. When people see your products they should instantly know who created it. Already the Layar symbol has stuck into my head as a good product identifier.

6 – Not Another Vista!
If I let my kids cook dinner for themselves they make cereal. My wife will take six hours to make an exquisite dinner that uses every dish in the house, including a few of our neighbors. The kids eat cereal because its easy to do. My kids are your users. They’re not going to make Chateaubriand no matter how good it tastes. So make your apps simple to use.
7 - Save the Trees, Please
Please don’t make me print out another marker to see your version of augmented reality. We might be able to say that AR is a green product, but for all the papervision markers we’ve had to print out.
8 – Now With Less Spam
For the AR apps that allow user added content, we need to make sure we’re not besieged with spammers like the regular Internet. While this might be an impossible request, at least consider the spammers in your product design.

9 – Tell Me A Story
Augmented reality was built by programmers, but it needs artists to grow. Don’t forget to tell me a story and engage my emotions. AR is a wonderful new medium with potential to tell stories in ways never told before. The story can exist all around us or even in our living room.
10 – FUN!!!
Now matter what the purpose of your app, even if its a serious one like saving the rain forest. Don’t forget to make it fun (and maybe include a little magic).
Popularity: 58% [?]
Link-a-palooza
Posted by Tom Carpenter in augmented reality on May 21st, 2009
I’m typing this post on my kids computer since my motherboard crashed on mine. I had some more in-depth posts planned, but until I can get my computer up and running (new MB is currently installed and now partitioning the hard drive), I’m just going to throw out some interesting links. Hopefully tomorow I can get some more meat up on the page.
But before I do that, I’d like to thank all those that read and commented on my Path to Augmented Vision post which surpassed my previous top post Automating the Digitalization of the World. Special thanks to Rouli who helped clean up my draft version of the post.
Which leads me to the New SREngine video from Rouli/Ori’ssites. The updated SREngine is fascinating and is an impressive piece of work for one man. I can’t wait to see it on the iPhone.
The next link is from Shepherd’s Piabout his talk “Instrumenting the World” and his recent experiences discussing Augmented Reality with various government groups including the DoDIIS (Department of Defense Intelligence Information Systems).
Lastly, Jan at Augmented Reality Blog brings us a usability test of “Unifeye Design”–an augmented reality programming tool for non-programmers. I didn’t get a chance to try it out, but I’m sure I will once I wrangle my new computer into submission.
Popularity: 2% [?]
Ori/Rouli’s Weekly Linkfest
Posted by Tom Carpenter in augmented reality on April 26th, 2009
In case you missed it, Rouli has posted his weekly linkfest.
Congratulations to the 100th post for Games Alfresco, but you’d better get moving, I’m rapidly catching up to you guys.
Popularity: 4% [?]
The AR Hub
Posted by Tom Carpenter in augmented reality on April 22nd, 2009
While I’ve only recently joined the AR conversation, Ori at Games Alfresco, and Rouli at Augmented Times, have been promoting AR for the last year. Rouli announced this week they will be combining forces to help create a central clearinghouse for AR information. And I for one welcome our new AR overlords.
Seriously, I think this is a great idea. A lot of AR content exists in various blogs, and I think the conversation between them could be enhanced by a site bringing them together. Bravo guys, I’ll be happy to contribute.
Lastly, Jan over at the Augmented Reality Blog, brought up that he would be giving us a little series about augmented reality in a production process. I’ve had the pleasure of speaking to Jan about his company’s products for some projects at Toyota, and I’m looking forward to hearing more about his other ideas.
Popularity: 4% [?]




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