Augmented Environments Lab

Blair MacIntyre was interviewed by John Havens for his ongoing blogtalkradio series “Tactical Transparency“. The interview focused on the implications of Augmented Reality and how it can be used for gaming, marketing, and social networking. This interview can be heard by following the link below.

Abstract

In this paper we introduce AR Scratch, the first augmented-reality (AR) authoring environment designed for children. By adding augmented-reality functionality to the Scratch programming platform, this environment allows pre-teens to create programs that mix real and virtual spaces. Children can display virtual objects on a real-world space seen through a camera, and they can control the virtual world through interactions between physical objects. This paper describes the system design process, which focused on appropriately presenting the AR technology to the typical Scratch population (children aged 8-12), as influenced by knowledge of child spatial cognition, programming expertise, and interaction metaphors. Evaluation of this environment is proposed, accompanied by results from an initial pilot study, as well as discussion of foreseeable impacts on the Scratch user community.
Full Reference

I. Radu and B. MacIntyre, “Augmented-Reality Scratch: A children’s Authoring Environment for Augmented-Reality Experiences,” Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Interaction Design and Children, Como, Italy: ACM, 2009, pp. 210-213.