Augmented Reality in Games and Toys

As far back as 2004, Dr Adrian David Cheok and his research team at National University of Singapore have been working to get kids off the couch and back into the playing field with augmented videos games. Cheok's Human Pacman game allows players to interact with each other in a 3D Pacman world overlaid on their field of vision with googles, headset and wearable computers.[http://www.gizmag.com/go/3512/]

See this early example

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWNi0ly0TU8

When we look at the cumbersome equipment in this early AR game, we realize how fast the field has advanced. In 2006 Nintendo introduced the Wii and heralded a new era of interactive video games. The games have become popular with kids and adults, and they have made these mixed reality games an everyday part of modern family culture.

In 2009, Sony introduced a face recognition library for PlayStation Eye. The technology can detect faces and track their motion. Using the applications library, a person's face could be replaced with a cartoon face of a person or animal. As the real person moves or makes expressions, The new augmented face now moves and makes expressions like the real person. See the demo [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOtPVof2K94 Vision Library for PlayStation Eye : DigInfo]

At the 2010 Game Developers Conference, Sony featured the new EyePet. The EyePet is set to work with motion controller PlayStation Move. Players of the game see themselves interacting on screen with an oh-so-cute pet monkey. You can tickle him, wash his hair or interect with him and his toys. The pet responds with various expressions and movements.

EyePet Commercial

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJhqeZloHh4

Scheduled for release in October 2010 is Xbox's Kinect (code name '''Project Natal'''), an augmented reality game said to a "game-changer" is a step beyond Wii. Project Natal is a full-body motion controller--no controller needed. It recognizes points on the user's body and responds to any body movement. [http://mashable.com/2010/05/11/project-natal-october-launch/]

Xbox Kinect (Formerly code named Project Natal) : Sugar Ray Leonard, Eric Dickerson, and Willie Gault

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-443dE5-gk

Lego

Let's call this next example- Just as it ever was-when the box is more interesting than the toy! Some companies are placing AR Markers on the boxes that hold toys. An in store webcam and computer allows kids to hold the box up to the camera to view 3D views and movement of the toys inside. See this video example for Lego

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGu0N3eL2D0 Lego Augmented Reality

AR Hockey Play Station Vita 2012 Demo

Pokemon Go

Next Up: Augmented Reality in Sports