Augmented Reality: Winscape

Augmented Reality

House Windows

This is the one of the coolest implementations of tracking technology and video orientation I've ever seen. The project was named Winscape and represents two high definition video monitors configured to look like actual windows in a home, these monitors represent a dynamic scene and change perspective based on a tracking tag that would is worn. The picture on the left shows the actual configuration, between the windows on the bookshelf is the tracking device used to decipher viewer orientation.

The company that built this is Rational Craft and planning to release a hardware/software kit for somewhere between $2,500 and $3,000. I have no idea what that includes because the setup is controlled via an iPhone app and the sensor tag is a Wii remote. I guess the price includes the TVs and the sensing itself, not sure.

VIDEOS

There are two videos here, the first is the actual demo of the system including the iPhone application used for scene selection. There is a scenery site for downloading scenes, including user contributed scenes. The site provides tips and options on how to create your own custom scenes.The video on the right is the demonstration of the initial installation with voice over and the iPhone application controlling the scenes. 

The video on the left shows a time lapse of the build, this is as  impressive as the actual prototype demonstration. They basically framed out a new wall over the existing one, this made it much easier to handle the installation. Not something for the weekend warrior. I also included a link here to the animation that was done supporting the actual build, another nice job.

Needless to say this would be a cool thing to have in a room without windows but this could be put in any room that has an empty wall, especially outside facing. Besides a potential therapeutic value think of how this could be used to explore the world, from the windows in your house!

Since I have a Mac with two monitors I am going to download WinScape and try it out, I may even download the iPhone application if it seems useful. At this point I don't know much about Winscape or how this configuration uses it but I'll report back once I know more if it seems worthwhile.