Oh My Guide! is an AR service designed to match people who are needing directions or language services with people that can help them, instead of relying on a computer or smartphone. This adds a social element to AR tourism.Â
I’ve often found in my own travels that getting to know the locals is the best way to enjoy a new country, but often times its hard to overcome that initial apprehension to being a foreigner. This app facilitates the experience for the user by matching them with people who are eager to help, thus belaying any fears about interaction.  Â
The system supports several modes of operation:
1) Default modality, which is guiding.
2) Game modality in which users or associations can set up some kind of urban games, like alternate reality games in the city.
3) Volunteer modality in which during the Expo the organization can spread volunteers around the city to help people in giving directions and talking in different languages, they can be highlighted with a distinct colour.
4) Bread crumbs modality: this is a modality in which users can leave messages around the city specific to the streets where the messages are left in. This feature is useful to know more about that particular street as people view it e.g. leaving suggestions about shortcut
I particularly like the concept of the app because its not trying to replace human interaction, but to enhance it. I think this is truly an exceptional idea that I hope works as well as it sounds.Â
And if you don’t quite understand the concept, they’ve made a couple of fun videos using hand puppets. Bravo!
1 – Allergy with Maps
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2 – Lost in Translation
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3 – When the city is boring
[…] Oh my guide! is an interesting concept AR application to help tourists that visit Milan for world expo 2015 to find a local to guide them to their destination. Obviously not feasible today, but maybe in 5 years mobile phones will support this level of augmentation. (via The Future Digital Life) […]