I’m going to be honest here and openly admit that my ideal mash-up is sort of aiming for a Dennou Coil-esque augmented reality platform, and why not? Dennou Coil‘s augmented reality world was such a delightfully playful yet fairly fleshed out vision of AR, and has been a source of inspiration and excitement for augmented enthusiasts everywhere.

Let’s jump right into the list…

.
.
.

Computer Vision: Georg Klein’s PTAM (Parallel Tracking and and Mapping)

“PTAM (Parallel Tracking and Mapping) is a camera tracking system for augmented reality. It requires no markers, pre-made maps, known templates, or inertial sensors.”

PTAM is a very nice markerless tracking method. While I can easily imagine QR and other 2d barcode systems remaining active in an AR world, most of the augmented media should be markerless, using a combination of PTAM and GPS/compass data.

.
.
.

Menus and object creation: wah_wah_hawah’s ARDeskTop (ARToolKit)

In this augmented reality world, we need menus and interfaces to customize, build, and interact with the media around us. ARDeskTop, built with ARToolKit, is one example of a feasible model of menus and interaction. This demo is stellar, but the markers and cellphone are pretty clunky for mainstream use, and I can’t imagine anyone wanting to wear a tracking marker taped to their finger all the time. This is where the next example fits in…

.
.
.

Input devices: Taehee Lee and Tobias Höllerer’s HandyAR

I know, the pun just kills me. So now that we’ve set up a few technologies for computer-vision, and laying down the ‘virtual space’ into which we can add AR objects, we need a few modes of interaction. Using computer-vision, HandyAR looks for hands in the live video image, and allows a user to utilize said hands as a mode of input or interaction in an augmented reality environment through gesture and position.

This is one possibility for the future of interface for the next augmented reality world. Caveats: closed fists, unintentional gestures, etc.

.
.
.

So, can anyone arrange a little lunch party for Klein, WahWahHawah, Lee and Hollerer? … Pretty please?

Stay tuned, coming soon: Let’s Squish Our Fruits Together Part 2 – Devices, frameworks, community.