Invisible Train - Augmented Reality on a PDA
Check out what these people call the Invisible Train project. Here’s what it does: you point your PDA (with camera attachment) at a specially-marked train track. The live picture that your camera sees shows up on your PDA screen, but with a twist: you also see a computer-generated 3D train. In fact, several of these PDAs with cameras can be connected with wi-fi, and they’ll all “see” the same train moving synchronously around the track.
It’s called Augmented Reality, except without the bulky head-mounted display usually associated with the concept. The PDA here becomes a “portal” into the augmented world in which the train exists. I think it’s brilliant, and the possibilities are amazing.
First of all, you need a device with a screen and a camera facing in opposite directions. PDAs are good for this, but camera-phones are probably even better, as their processing power inevitably increases.
A few ideas that come to mind:
- Add famous people into your photographs! Who doesn’t want their picture taken with the president (or any president, for that matter). Could be added later, but even cooler if it’s done on the fly, on the LCD (you’ll need to fit everyone in, including super-imposed people, after all). Come to think of it, this reminds of what was probably my very first experience with Augmented Reality: the part of the Haunted House at Disneyland where they put a green ghost inside your (and everybody else’s) moving shell. I love that ride.
- Personal leprechaun. Like a next-gen tamagochi. You flip open your camera phone and look around to see whether your little friend is sitting on your desk or on top of your alarm clock. If so, hold your finger out to him and see if he jumps onto your finger or would rather bite it off.
- Murder Mystery parties. See who finds the fingerprints on the bathroom doorknob. Is there a revolver hidden under the coffee table? Which guest has lipstick on their collar that could incriminate them? Lots of other similar scavenger hunt possibilities.
- Extend the invisible train to real life. When I point my PDA or cell phone camera to the subway map, show me where the trains are right now. Talk about a natural interface.
What would you like a portal into today?
