Augmented reality (AR) is a way of animating the world using a smartphone or iPad that works by linking content such as videos, hyperlinks or documents to images viewed through the device.  In AR, the real-world is supplemented or augmented by sound, video, graphics or map-based information.  For example, someone could point a smartphone at a picture of people and the app on the phone could start playing a video of those people.  The app works by linking a unique image to content stored on the internet or local servers.  Another example could be a BU Open Day where perspective students could scan a picture outside a lecture room and be shown a short video explaining how the room is used, or view a clip of the room being used for a seminar, or see a student explaining the difference between seminars and lectures in universities.

Here is a short TED video showing augmented reality in action.

In readiness for the forthcoming Service Excellence Conference and the CELebrate conference, both in April, we are working to create some augmented reality content to demonstrate the possibilities and potential to attendees at these two events.

If you have worked with AR or are interested in developing the technology at BU, please contact us at CEL.  Otherwise, we look forward to demonstrating it to you in April.  If you can’t wait that long, why not come along to the 1 hr workshop, 11:00 – 12:00 on 16th March.  You can book your free ticket here.