Augmented Reality

This past fall semester, a new club quietly started at UAT: the Augmented Reality Club. The purpose of the club, led by student Scott Gladstein and sponsored by Professor Randy James, is to work on projects that emphasize augmented reality.

But what is augmented reality?

"Augmented reality is the interaction between the virtual world and the real world, where digital elements are overlaid in the real world. Literally, digital aspects augmenting reality," Gladstein said.

A quick search of augmented reality on YouTube brings up thousands of hits of what augmented reality is and what it is capable of. For example, there are applications where iPhone users can point the phone's camera at a certain building and information will pop up on their phone about the building in question. Some people have made business cards where augmented images appear on the computer screen when shown in front of a web camera.

Gladstein started the club up after discussions with numerous students who were interested in augmented reality and shared the desire to work on projects.

"We wanted to do augmented reality, but no one was doing anything with it and there were no classes for it. So we're using this as a stepping stone to create a lot of excitement about the new technologies out there."

He continued: "There was a lot of interest going around. Students were talking about it [augmented reality], watching videos of it and wanting to start projects on it. Randy and I sat down one night talking about it, and I had the club application in for it the next day."

The club is currently working on the UAT logo project. The goal is to project a 3D image of the UAT logo on the wall near the campus front desk when someone holds a card in front of a web camera. They hope to have the project ready this month.

The club is aiming bigger in terms of goals for the end of the semester.

"We're looking at it [a project] with [student] Mike Wach...he's working on a project for us as well as part of his GAM 370 [class]. He's programming a Chewbacca chessboard, an animated chessboard that showcases the talents of UAT students, 3D-modeling-wise."

The Chewbacca chessboard aims to imitate the game board being used by Chewbacca and C-3PO in Star Wars: a New Hope.

The Augmented Reality Club is also open to students wishing to start new AR projects. Gladstein mentioned that there are two SIPs [Senior Innovation Projects] working in the club.  The club provides resources and help to those looking for it. He was not able to provide more details but hinted that one of the projects would resemble Tower Defense games played via augmented reality.

The Augmented Reality Club meets Fridays at 4 p.m. in Room 106 on campus and welcomes everyone.

Story by Nathaniel Madara