3D California

We had several questions lately, about the use of QR Codes and how it is similar or different to usual augmented reality markers. A couple of elements here may help understand better the topic.

QR Codes are used to spread strings, like URLs

What is a QR Code?

Characters in a text can be coded as bits – zeros and ones – that can then be printed as black and white. Following a specific pattern, we can encode a full string of characters as a set of small black and white squares. This is QR Code (see one example in the picture)

If you want to read a QR Code, some mobile applications will help you do that. Your cell phone camera will read a QR Code and output a string (usually the URL of a website you may visit). Such an app will execute a 2D image analysis, finding the 4 corners of the QR Code which are always the same, and deducing the position of all the squares in the QR Code. There’s no 3D computing, only 2D image analysis.

QR Code or AR Marker?

A QR Code is not an augmented reality (AR) marker. They can look quite the same, but usually AR markers have fewer black and white squares and they are bigger. The aim of AR markers is not to convey a string. An AR application will have the position and orientation of the marker analyzed by a camera, in 3D. The computation is very different. With a QR Code, we read the value of the black and white squares but we don’t assess its position, and we want it to be still during the computation. With AR markers, we recognize a known marker in a set of previously learned ones, plus we get its position and orientation in real time as it moves. Then we usually play interactive 3D animations in real time according to the very position of the marker.

This is an AR Marker with its position outlined in red

Why would a QR Code not be a good AR marker?

A QR Code is usually small. Therefore, the camera needs to be close if we want to read the coded string. The QR Code reading algorithm is very sensitive to movement. Once you stay still for a short moment, and the coded string is recognized, the QR Code has done its job. You don’t want to track it while moving.

AR markers are usually bigger and can be easily tracked with good augmented reality solutions. You don’t have to read or decode it. All you need is to recognize it and then track its movements to render interactive 3D animations accordingly, and in real time. Recent augmented reality advanced solutions have been enabling Markerless Tracking, which does not exactly mean there is no marker at all, but lets us use any image as a marker, like the logo of a company, or a picture, instead of a black and white AR Marker.

What if I want to use a QR Code?

There are plenty of solutions, for example, you could have your Mobile demo downloadable online, and use a QR Code to spread the URL. The actual demo could use any other marker to work with.

Thank you again, and we hope you will have plenty of ideas for projects using computer vision and natural interface technologies. And don’t forget … Zest you ideas with 3D !

At CES in Las Vegas (January 2010) the French company Parrot introduced a new flying machine for entertainment, and maybe for other purposes in the future.
It is a drone allowing to explore new experiences, mixing video, game and real world thanks to augmented reality technology.

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Pride is an essential part of a sales job. Being proud to deliver products of services that can change the way people live is a major incentive in a sales guy everyday life. But when it comes to 3D software and products, pride just reaches a new dimension.

3D application vendors are not just regular vendors. 3D apps vendors sell apps that change the way we live. Applications that change the way you live.

Remember, for example, CAD/CAM software ? Such 3D applications have revolutionized the automotive and aeronautics industry. 20 or 30 years before, designers would have to spend hours on paper and pen to create products, engineers would spend days to manufacture those products based on drawings, support engineers would spend month to test products before the sales process begin. In these industries, 3D has just changed the way it goes, from design to manufacturing and support.

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There’s more to remember from 2009 than the economy slowdown. Techrunch Co-Editor Erick Schonfeld quoted a very interesting chart showing that from a Google Trends point of view, « Augmented Reality » just passed « Virtual Reality » a couple of months ago.

Source : Google Trends

Actually, this Google Trends chart shows many different facts; let’s go through some of them.

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Often in some place dedicated to do business networking, we have few time to get in touch with people. Elsewhere  people don’t always wear some visible elements  allowing to identify them (badge, business card..).
What if you could simply get  some augmented information about  people you briefly meet on an event ?

We can imagine efficient features for a mobile application based on the principle of augmented reality to allow you to capture the “enlarged identity” (Identity) of the people you meet.
Reversely your Augmented ID may be captured by others.

With such a system, you are not defined only by your name and function,…but also by some of your activities in your digital life.

Look at this video to figure out what application developers are preparing for us.

Do you think this is useful today and it will be more and more common within next few years ? What do you think about people sharing more information about them at first glance with another fellow ?