SPRXmobile have today announced the first “mobile augmented reality browser” available for Android. The application known as “Layar” is a free app that aims to display real time digital information on top of the reality you see through a phone's camera.
These new content layers can be created by other users and companies in order to add their own data to specific locations and landmarks.
For a better understanding of the Layar app and “augmented mobile reality” take a look at this introduction video below.
Currently the Layar application only works in the Netherlands, and there is no indication when we can expect to see support for other regions.
The application will be made available in the Android Market shortly.
[via Layar.eu]
… and are you sure you don’t mean REALTY???
In which case perhaps you’re right. Virtual Reality, – NO. Virtual Realty – YES
World’s first? Erm – Wikitude AR Travel Guide does this – uses the camera to show POIs.
I believe there are other apps to do similar things. So how is this a major “world’s first” breakthrough?
@Greg From what i can gather Layar are keen to stress that they are the first AR browser, not first AR app.
The data content layers are like webpages in traditional browsers.
“Unlike, say, Wikitude, Layar isn’t a self-contained app but rather an enabler. The idea is that a variety of people will make available a variety of Layar compatible AR overlays – layers – which you can then view using a single browser.”
Hope that helps