National Science Week, iiNet and Scitech are bringing the dinosaurs back!
To celebrate National Science Week 2011, the creative minds from Scitech and the National Science Week team have partnered with the techno whizzes at iiNet to bring back the dinosaurs using 'Augmented Reality' technology.
During August, our prehistoric friends will be roaming through 14 Australian cities and towns. Along with the usual suspects (Tyrannosaurus Rex, Triceratops & Stegosaurus), Jurassic Science Week will bring dinosaurs like Chungkingosaurus and Parasaurolophus back to life.
On top of helping to inspire imaginations (young & old), our nationwide experiment will highlight how science can be innovative & fun. Read on to learn more about how it works, and then join in, take some happy snaps and enter a competition to win some great prizes!
What is Augmented Reality?
In a nutshell, augmented reality (or AR) combines the real and the virtual. Unlike virtual reality which replaces the real world with a simulated one, augmented reality gives us a view of reality which has been tweaked, enhanced or augmented.
"The experiment"
For this project, we've used AR technology to give us a live view of the real world, but with a little something extra -computer generated dinosaurs in 3D.
We recruited an iiNet Programmer to write some code for an application called Layar. The Layar browser uses a phone's camera, GPS & compass to display real time digital information (like an image), on top of what is actually real, on the camera screen of a phone.
Let's see those dinosaurs
To get up close and personal, you'll need a handy smartphone (iPhone or Android). Next, visit:
http://nationalscienceweek.iinet.net.au/download
From here:
- Download Layar for either iOS or Android; then
- Download the Jurassic Science Week 'layar'
- And... launch!
In cities and towns around the country those ancient creatures have left some fresh foot prints - look out for orange stickers indicating a dinosaur is in the area!
How it works
Once a user fires up the Layar app, it automatically activates the phone's camera. The phone's GPS (or Global Positioning System) then determines the location of the phone, while the compass figures out which direction the phone is facing.
When the Jurassic Science Week layar is launched, the app loads up digital information when a location coordinate (set by our iiNet Programmer) is matched in Layar. The app then combines digital with reality, offering an augmented view of the world with our dinosaur friends.
Share the experience
Whether you're part of the Twitterrati, use Facebook or love plain old-fashioned email, you can share your experience from within the Jurassic Science Week layar (in the app).
Hit the 'action' button to:
- Take a screenshot.
- Email.
- Share with Facebook or Twitter.
Go on and explore the built-in features or learn more from:
http://nationalscienceweek.iinet.net.au/sharing
About the developers
iiNet is Australia's second largest DSL broadband provider. You may have read about iiNet's terrifying terabyte plans, how they've introduced Australia's first true IPTV service and helped customers around the country get Naked – in short, they're passionate about connecting people and live for the next big thing. Find out more from www.iinet.net.au
To learn more about the clever people from Scitech, who dreamed up and helped develop "The experiment", go ahead and visit www.scitech.org.au
Join iiNet's national photo competition and win!
Calling all photographasauruses...
So, you've found yourself some dinosaurs and you've figured out some cool ways to get shots of yourself and your friends interacting with your new prehistoric companions. Why not use your new-found Augmented Reality photography talents to win some cool iiNet gear!
Simply share your Jurassic Science Week photos with iiNet by 21 August 2011 and you could win a years' worth of iiNet broadband. Find out more about how to enter from iiNet by visiting http://nationalscienceweek.iinet.net.au/competition.
State Competitions
You can also enter state level competitions in NSW, QLD, SA and VIC.