Project 1 is an Augmented Reality project created using the software of Vuforia and Unity. The use of Augmented Reality is to enhance the perception of an existing physical object. In the case of this project, we created virtual designs on top of physical paper cubes, such that when scanned with Augmented Reality, generates a 3D design on top of the cube.

Using Unity's modeling and rendering features, and Vuforia's AR technology, the project aimed for us to create our own 3-D design to scan and render on top of the cubes, the designs being based off of a physical location we had been to before. The cubes present a 3-D render of an area on top of them. Alongside this, the cubes provide additional information about the location given, such as it's weather and the local time. It also plays a sound, related to the location itself.

Given the hypothetical future where we have easy access to AR technology, I believe that having these sorts of knickknacks, or a similar medium, would become quite popular. I imagine a potential really good target for AR enhancement would be business cards or QR codes. Typically, these are used as forms of promotion, whereas a card provides information, the code sends you to a website to do something. With AR, that information from the business card could be visualized and expressed much more, whereas with the QR code, you’d still do something very similar, but instead fully visualize the content promoted rather than use a website.

I think it would be of great use in a classroom, especially in something like a picture book and other books. I genuinely believe that the experience for kids could be incredible: Imagine if they could read a picture book and have the pictures literally come to life in front of them, as the AR would generate much more powerful and stimulating imagery. Not to mention, AR in books could potentially liven up the experience of reading much more, even to adults. I think it could provide a second medium on top of the description in the form of a physical appearances/audio. Imagine reading a story about someone sitting in a room while it’s raining outside, when suddenly, the AR renders not only the person sitting in a chair, but emulating the rainfall outside as well, even the sounds itself. It has so much potential to lighten up storytelling in most every kind of format.

The mention of powerful imagery makes me think about its potential as an art form. People tag places or draw graffiti everywhere, but what if they put a code or some sort of thing to scan instead? Rather than limiting themselves to drawing on the wall, it could render some sort of incredible view that takes advantage of the architecture/setting the code is placed in. Not to mention, the usage of AR opens up art creation on a much larger scale, ignoring the material restrictions/space requirements large pieces would necessarily need. Artists could now create huge masterpieces that only require one to scan a small trinket to view properly.

Something else I could see its potential in is visual clarity. Imagine if instead of needing to put physical signs everywhere, you could just do it using AR instead. Gone are the days of having to place a sign to let people know not to walk somewhere, instead, you can just have the AR proactively warn or indicate to users otherwise. Not only that, but it could be useful for those who are constantly forgetting/misplacing things. Imagine if you could walk into your room and have all the important objects be pointed out/labeled, or if you had a lot of very similar objects (such as medications) all be labeled out properly with their information, such that you wouldn’t even need to bother remembering those things. I think AR’s utility and visual prowess make it an excellent step forward into the future.