Comments on: Hoping to avoid the hype bubble!

By: Mostly Marketing

Mostly Marketing — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:42:53 +0000

Augmented Reality is Hard…

As a newcomer to Augmented Reality fandom, I guess I’m guilty of jumping onto the hype bandwagon. Courtesy of Augmented Reality Blog, I came across a blog post by AR expert Blair McIntyre, who caution……

By: Augmented Reality Check « Augmented Reality Blog

Augmented Reality Check « Augmented Reality Blog — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:15:24 +0000

[...] 10, 2008 I completely agree with the statements made by Blair MacIntyre in this article. No miracle, he is one of THE experts for augmented reality from the beginning. And, also opposite [...]

By: blair

blair — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 01:05:04 +0000

I totally agree that some of the data we need is there; yes, we can identify products, IF a device can read the barcode. And, sure, it’s possible to know what’s in a store IF you can get access to the store’s databases.

However, those are some huge IF’s. And some huge leaps of faith. For example, name one store that keeps a SPATIAL record (computerized, not just implied or ad hoc) record of EXACTLY (3D coordinates, please) all those items are. You might be able to find out what is in the store, but not where it is. How do you know what is in the window?

Some folks think RFID will be the answer, but it’s been field tested and largely has failed. Big companies have eschewed putting RFID tags on products because of the cost and lack of benefit to them (as opposed to benefit to the stores).

Do some exercises for yourself to try out how big a leap you are making:
- go to a store and look in the window, and see how easy it is to see the barcodes on the display items. Bring the best DSLR camera you can get (e.g., I have looked at pictures taken with my Nikon D300). Zoom in; sharpen up those images with Photoshop. Even IF you can see the barcodes, can you read them? Could a computer? Be honest.
- Now, consider some of the “hyped” scenarios being put forth by folks at companies (like the guys on the google blogs). Stand back from that window a moderate distance. Look at that stuffed dog toy in the window. Connect all the dots in the system you image.

Sure, “everything” is possible with enough assumptions and “a small matter of programming.” Hypothetically, standards and co-operation can solve lots of things. But, when will these standards be here? Why would they be created? Who is paying, and why?

I do completely agree that this will happen. The point of my post was that it’s not as close as the demos and emerging hype would have “the common folk” think, and it is just this kind of “too soon hype” that the VR and AI communities engaged in.

By: twDarkflame

twDarkflame — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 22:03:24 +0000

The “mind-boggling” amount of data you want is already there.
Almost every product sold in the western world has a barcode.
Cross-referanced with the stores database, and possibly something like google product search, and you have everything you need.
All we need from a technical standpoint is to have barcodes visible for AR devices to see.
The rest is “just” co-operation and establishing of standards.

You are right that a closed system stands little chance of success, but from a technical standpoint of a lot of the “AR Dream” is quite possible.

Especialy as the “point to look up a product” is just a tiny aspex of the overall usefullness of a decent AR device.