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The latest version of ARound, an augmented reality experiment on S60, is surprisingly better than its initial public release. I still can’t help but think that augmented reality is one of those technologies that needs a proper leapfrog in hardware — some sort of integrated circuit that provides something better than GPS — for it to really make the breakthrough that people expect. To get such an app working, you’ll need to: Start up the camera (i.e., open the lens) Access a data source (i.e., some GeoRSS, Wikipedia, other POI database) Calibrate a digital compass (i.e., wave your phone like an idiot) Get a GPS signal (i.e., step outside and hope it is not too overcast/stormy) And then it works. These are simply too many requirements for an average user right now. This tech is coming for sure, all right, but it’s still a long ways off, and unless I’m missing something I don’t see how the 3GS will get around all these requirements either.

The latest version of ARound, an augmented reality experiment on S60, is surprisingly better than its initial public release.

I still can’t help but think that augmented reality is one of those technologies that needs a proper leapfrog in hardware — some sort of integrated circuit that provides something better than GPS — for it to really make the breakthrough that people expect.

To get such an app working, you’ll need to:

  • Start up the camera (i.e., open the lens)
  • Access a data source (i.e., some GeoRSS, Wikipedia, other POI database)
  • Calibrate a digital compass (i.e., wave your phone like an idiot)
  • Get a GPS signal (i.e., step outside and hope it is not too overcast/stormy)

And then it works.

These are simply too many requirements for an average user right now.

This tech is coming for sure, all right, but it’s still a long ways off, and unless I’m missing something I don’t see how the 3GS will get around all these requirements either.

Notes