Google now asks not only developers but also creative people to take part in the Google Glass project. Google also shows new pictures and a video with impressions of how the data device may be used in everyday life. 
(Picture: Google) Continue reading →
Motorola HC1 is a miniaturized computer for use in industrial applications that can be worn on the head.
Motorola Solutions, the U.S. manufacturer of telecommunications equipment, has developed the HC1 computer. It comprises an integrated screen, camera, voice recognition and headphones. In addition, compass, acceleration sensors and rotation sensors are available that detect where the user looks, and allow control with gestures. The total weight of the entire system does not exceed 800 grams, and is intended to be worn on the head. The manufacturer assures that the machine is to be worked with comfortably, even with a prolonged daily use.
After the first three waves of global networking, the beginnings of the fourth wave are visible: the human body is connected to the Web. Google Glass is the first incarnation of this trend.
If you are interested in this subject: we have published an article. You find it in the NETZWERTIG blog (in German).
Augmented Reality may have great potential – however, the introduction of this new technique has been rather slow so far.
Now Auto-Bild has developed in collaboration with Metaio a new app for iOS/Android, that adds interactive content to its articles. The app responds to code symbols contained in the articles, and launches the associated content.
If you are a reader of Auto-Bild, don’t miss this (free) app.
Auto-Bild is one of the major German car magazines. More information is available at the Auto-Bild website.
For details about augmented reality, see this article.
The october-issue (10/2011) of tcworld has recently been published. We have contributed an article: ‘Augmented Reality in Technical Communication’. Tcworld is one of the leading online magazines for technical communication and information management.
The article comprises the following topics:
You find the article at the tcworld website.
Metaio’s annual insideAR event is taking place in Munich on 26th and 27th September. Of course, the main focus is on the latest Metaio software technologies such as the upcoming release of the Unifeye development tool. Also, new hardware developments that support augmented reality applications will be presented, for example by Sony and ARM.
Especially interesting with regard to our main focus of activities – which is the development of applications in the industrial sector – are some presentations by speakers, such as:
For more information, see Metaio’s website.
The new Mobile Zeitgeist Special 3/2011 ‘Mobile Unternehmenskommunikation’ has recently been published. We have contributed an article: ‘Tablet Computers in Industrial Applications’.
The article comprises the following topics:
Mobile Zeitgeist is the leading online magazine on mobile business in German-speaking countries: industry trends, practical business models, innovative applications and news.
You find the Mobile Zeitgeist Special on the Mobile Zeitgeist website.
Currently there are only few applications for smartphones/tablets, that play a role in industrial processes and are actually used in customer service or in production. With the new generations of smartphones/tablets and the advance of new forms of information distribution (e.g., augmented reality), a much wider range of use is possible in industry.
In the following article I use the example of an application for customer service to demonstrate how such a usage might look like. Continue reading →
The technical advances in the last years, like fast processors, rapid data transmission, better displays and enhanced miniaturization, permit applications based on augmented reality to be processed on a smartphone or a tablet computer. Thus, such applications penetrate more and more into the everyday world. They are mostly designed for marketing, sales and advertising; many are simply playing around, just to demonstrate the possibilities of the new technology.
In industry, augmented reality applications have been used for quite some time. However, the necessary hardware is complex, such as special camera systems, sensors, displays and eye-tracking devices. Therefore, the applications are limited to specific areas. Continue reading →
Augmented Reality (Abbreviation: AR) generally refers to the enlargement of the human perception of reality by information generated by a computer. An artificial second level is added to the natural environment that provides additional data in real-time. Continue reading →