The next time you go to a new job, augmented reality may be showing you all the perks in the office and leading you in the right direction toward your new desk.
Computer vision house Blippar has launched a new indoor visual positioning system that uses computer vision to bring interactive augmented reality to any indoor environment, even large spaces.
The technology leverages Blippar’s urban visual positioning system but indoors in order to help employees navigate new workspaces, help industrial workers find a job that needs to be done or show sports attendees to their seats.
The augmented reality system could be used to give industrial workers a path to their task. Source: BlipparThe system features indoor wayfinding that navigates indoor environments by providing directions and information directly through their camera in augmented reality, Blippar said. The company said it potentially could bring AR to large complexes such as airports, shopping malls, stadiums and supermarkets.
The technology could be used by retailers to point customers to different parts of a store or highlight specific sales. Live AR content can be placed in certain locations to give customers reviews on products or more information on how it works. In entertainment, the technology could be used to make venues more engaging or for treasure hunt games. In restaurants, it could be used to show a virtual menu outside the store or offer the daily specials. In tourism, it can power tours of different attractions such as what is being done at the Detroit Institute of Arts with Google Tango. In design, the system could be used to see how furniture, art and wallpaper are used in different spaces much like what IKEA is doing.
Blippar said the technology does not need access to visual maps of the environment and can be set up quickly from floor plans or architectural CAD models. The technology uses computer vision to enable smartphone or wearable cameras to recognize its surroundings and the direction it is facing to track movement.
The technology is currently in a trial phase but Blippar said it plans to launch with retailers or real estate companies in early 2019.
