from ACM technews 08/12/2009
ICT Results (08/12/09)
The European Union-funded iTacitus project has developed a "visual time machine" that combines augmented reality (AR) content with location awareness capabilities in mobile devices to give visitors to historic sites a richer and more enjoyable experience. The AR system overlaps information and images in real time on photos and videos taken with mobile devices. Users "can look at an historic site and, by taking a photo or viewing it through the camera on their mobile device, be able to access much more information about it," says BMT senior researcher Luke Speller, who oversaw development of the technology. "They are even able to visualize, in real time, how it looked at different stages in history." The iTacitus project also developed location-based services and smart itinerary-generating software for tourists. Visitors to historic cities can provide the iTacitus system with their personal preferences, such as an interest in opera or Roman history, and the system automatically suggests places to visit and a list of events taking place. The itinerary feature also can dynamically schedule visits and provide directions between sites. At an historic site, the AR feature brings the cultural and historic significance of the site to life by providing AR content downloaded from a central server. ITacitus project manager Ben Hodgson says the plan is to provide the system for free to smartphone users, and then charge a fee for AR content at different locations.
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