GE Energy’s new windmill ad using Augmented Reality – must watch!
This is definitely the next level of human-computer interaction.
Augmented Reality refers to a set of new technologies that allow us to interact with our computers/mobile phones etc in a totally new way that includes touch sensitivity, 3d movement and possibly also sound based interaction. Examples include Microsoft Surface, the PerceptivePixel touch screen (used in CNN’s american elections coverage) and even the iPhone’s touchscreen.Beyond those, there’s also ’self aware’ alphabet blocks called ’siftables’, the Nintendo Wii and some other basic gaming interfaces.
But there’s another level even further out on the ‘coolness’ radar – basically being able to interact with the computer generated scenario (a game for e.g.), using just your webcam.
GE Energy released a new advert for their windmills that demonstrates this ultimate tech – check out this video of how it works first. And if you’d like to try it, this is the original GE link.
The software basically first recognizes the pattern on the printout, develops an internal 3d mode, then overlays the windmill animations, and then as you move around your printout, follows you in realtime. And that’s not all – if you blow into your microphone, the windmill goes faster!!
I think this is basically Flash + Webcam + motion detection sw + pattern matching sw + 3d modelling sw. Also sound patten recognition to some extent.
Just plain awesomeness.