Creating Augmented Reality

AR enabled applications, while numerous, do have some barriers to use, especially for classroom teachers. First, the installation of the app on each device required. If the devices are owned by the school, the IT department may need to approve and install the app. Devices owned by students may be limited by parental blocks, lack of internet access, or issues with local storage management. Second, while many apps are available, finding the correct one for any situation may be very challenging and time consuming. Many teachers find it more efficient to create a new custom resource than to spend time searching.

As with implementing most technology, the more complex the process, the less likely it is to be used. Some opportunities exist for implementing simple, custom AR experiences under some strict criteria:

• Free to use

• Does not require the viewer to download an app

AR can be implemented without downloading an app on compatible devices through WebAR. This reduces the requirement to download different apps. As with all things on the web, the content must be hosted. In addition, how the content appears must be designed and organized in some sort of studio environment. Two web-based AR solutions that offer limited, free accounts include:

• MyWebAR

• BlippAR

The most common AR enabled device available today is a standard Android or Apple smartphone. While AR headsets like Microsofts Hololens show what may be achieved in the future, let's focus on the most practical devices for now. A variety of objects can be placed in AR, including images, video and 3D models. While images and videos can certainly be an important part of an AR experience, it is difficult to conceive of a situation in which a AR image is more compelling than a printed picture, or a QR code link. The same is true of video; a link to the video would serve the same purpose. In contrast, 3D content in AR allows for a different kind of interaction.

3D Models

An excellent source for 3D models is the website Sketchfab, which started in 2012 as a marketplace for 3D content. A significant number of models are available for free, though you will have to sign up for an account in order to download. While searching for content, note that Sketchfab has not made it especially easy to find free content. The key filter to use is the "downloadable" filter, then look in the top right corner of the preview and avoid those with a dollar sign.

Sketchfab website

*Please note that both MyWebAR and BlippAR include sample 3D models that can be used, but are limited and may not fit your needs for a particular lesson.

Platform

Both MyWebAR and BlippAR offer free accounts that allow you to create a limited number of marker based AR projects. While BlippAR has some excellent features, this tutorial will use MyWebAR for it's simplicity, flexibility of file formats and performance.

My Web AR website

Implementation

Our purpose here is to demonstrate one way that AR could be created and used as a tool for learning. In this case, the 3D model being used is Saturn, and could be used as part of an activity that involves identifying or classifying the objects in our solar system. Similar activities could be done using models of chemicals, animals, plants, etc.

The advantage of AR in this context is that it allows the examination of a 3D model without having to give up storage space, and also the ease with which QR codes could be printed and distributed. Obviously, if a 2D picture would accomplish the same objective then AR could be an unneeded layer of complexity to the lesson. Whether this complexity would be balanced out by the novelty is a question that would need to be addressed by the teacher.

Watch this video to see how to put it together: