Augmented Reality

To successfully complete
READ this blog post.
DO and THINK about the information in the "Learn More About" activities.
LEARN by completing the Hands-On Activities. Your total time commitment is about 45 minutes.

Introduction to Augmented Reality
Augmented reality is viewing the real-world, directly or indirectly, with computer generated enhancements such as pictures, video, sounds or GPS data. Your perception of reality is not replaced by a simulated one like in virtual reality. It's magnified in real-time and in context with environmental elements.

When you watch the big football game on Sunday afternoon, sports scores scroll across the bottom of your TV screen. The new information adds to your overall game watching experience. Augmented reality does the same thing. It also makes your smartphone or other device's display becomes more interactive and manipulable.

More than three years ago, the Virginia Beach Public Library was one of several organizations, including the Associated Press and National Trust for Historic Preservation, selected as pilot partners for the national launch of TagWhat, augmented reality app. The Library uses the app for mobile storytelling and local history promotion.

Learning More about Augmented Reality (25 minutes)

1. Watch Augmented Reality a Common Craft Video (2:16 minutes)
2. Read the online article "An APP for Virginia Beach City History" (3 minutes)
3. Watch How augmented reality will change sports ... and build empathy a TED Talk Video (9:11 minutes)

Hands-on Activities (20 minutes)

1. Decorate your room with augmented reality and furniture form IKEA. Download the IKEA Catalog app on your smartphone. Open the app and select "Place furniture in your room". Your smartphone's camera will take a 360 or180 degree picture. Then, you can add furniture (digital content from the catalog) to design your own spaces. Don't have a smartphone? Watch this video instead. (10 minutes) Or
   
   Watch records jump from the pages of the Guinness Book of World Records. Download the GWR2014 app from the Google Play Store on your Android device. Play with the app and history becomes 3D as you view records and historical events! (10 minutes)
2. View Virginia Beach with fresh eyes. Visit the TagWhat site or download the TagWhat APP. Search for places in Virginia Beach and enhance your reality with cool stories and old pictures. (10 minutes)

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