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Tag: UX

  • Augmented Reality: The Importance of UI /UX Innovation

    Augmented Reality: The Importance of UI /UX Innovation

    I think it’s fair to say that most people in the tech industry agree that AR and VR are the future of computing. Companies around the world are spending vast sums of money and resources exploring the opportunities. Most efforts have centered on hardware like smart glasses, visors, helmets, and other form factors. A great deal of attention has been placed on visual recognition, but a challenge that comes along every time we go through a quantum leap in technology remains—user interface.

    Without intuitive access, new technologies cannot thrive. That’s why I was so excited when I learned about Eyefluence, a company that has taken on the challenge and come up with intuitive interactions that really work with the new form factors. Eyefluence, lead by CEO Jim Marggraff, one of the brightest minds in technology innovation, focuses on what makes sense. Tapping and swiping, while natural for a hand held device, are not really natural for a HMD or smart glasses, so Eyefluence focuses on your eyes!

    Eyefluence’s vision- driven interface focuses on the eye-brain connection. You use eye movement, to interact and as quick as you can think, you can interact. As they describe it on their website, “eyes can instantaneously transform intent into action.” In just a few minutes a typical user can master the “language” of their eye-interaction technology. Undoubtedly you’ve heard of or seen eye-tracking technologies in the past, but they usually follow the basic principles of standard mouse interaction. With Eyefluence there is no need to look at objects and dwell on them to activate them.

    Intriguing isn’t it? I wish I could fully explain the subtlety of their interface to you in writing but this is one you have to see to truly understand. Luckily, Jim Marggraff will be discussing the technology at my AR session at Digital Hollywood this October 18th http://www.dhsessions3.com/Tuesday16Fl5.html. Please do stop by to learn more about eye-interaction technology. And if you can’t join us, you can learn more about Eyefluence at www.eyefluence.com.

    Roy Ashok (DAQRI), Brian Blau (Gartner), Ronen Horovitz (EyeCue-tech), David Weinstein (NVIDIA), Michael Leventhal (Formerly of Magic Leap) will also be on the panel. Come meet the leaders of the companies that are making AR possible. We’ll all be available to answer your questions. Come and learn how your company can be part of this technological revolution and tremendous business opportunity.

  • Augmented Reality: Next Generation Apps

    Augmented Reality: Next Generation Apps

    I started working on Augmented Reality (AR) and Mixed Reality (MR) almost two years ago. At first I focused on creating demos, proofs of concepts that could serve to spark the imagination. Later I joined Google’s Project Tango initiative and began looking at the possibilities more in depth. I examined HMDs (head-mounted displays) and various technologies, learning about new approaches to UI (user interface) and UX (user experience).

    [blockquote width=’30’]

    AR and MR technologies allow us to superimpose computer-generated images on a person’s view of the real world. The result is a blended view of both the real world and the computer generated images, which can be interactive.

    [/blockquote]

    I was immediately fascinated by the possibilities, imagining a future where computers and mobile devices are replaced by something as simple as smart glasses. I continued learning about the finer aspects of AR and MR: visual recognition, gesture technologies, the use of our own eyes as part of a revolutionary UI, and more.

    As a result, NorthSouth Studios launched a division focused on AR and MR and we have grown from creating demos to developing a line of our own products. Our first-generation application, like Pokémon Go, ties in with over a billion mobile devices in the world. It’s called Hoodoo and it allows publishers to share augmented reality experiences with their audiences and customers with minimal cost and effort.

    At its simplest level, publishers provide print media or visual elements for display and Hoodoo makes it come alive. For example, say you have a magazine ad for a new car and some video footage that demonstrates the car’s most exciting features. With the Hoodoo app, users can point their mobile devices over the ad and see and hear the video content. Your ad literally jumps off the page and you and your team do not have to write a single line of code! And that’s just the first tier, basic service we offer. Hoodoo also allows more complex interactions, suitable for games, training and other uses.

    Our second AR/MR offering is a new line of educational products. First in line, and hitting the market in October, is ABC Animals: Alphabet in Motion written by NorthSouth Studios co-founder Sarina Simon (www.sarinasimon.com). The book and app combine the traditional joy of reading a picture book to a child with the entrancing vibrancy of AR.

    And there’s plenty more to come! We’re keeping our eye on the ball and focusing on HMDs and more immersive experiences. Toward that goal I have put together a spectacular Digital Hollywood panel which will take place on October 16th in Los Angeles. If you want to learn about the latest technologies, possibilities and meet the absolute experts in AR and MR come join us: see http://www.dhsessions3.com/Tuesday16Fl5.html. Our expert panel will cover the next generation of apps, from education to entertainment. I will be moderating the panel and afterwards I will be available to give demos and answer questions.

    I’ll be posting more articles covering our panel, panelists and their companies, and of course a great deal of information about AR and MR.