Aurasma takes Augmented Reality to the Next Level

London-based Autonomy has created a new technology that turns static images into animated images. The prototype technology, Aurasma is targeted at powering apps for iPhone, Android, and related devices. Early demonstrations illustrate how users can aim a smartphone or tablet PC at an image from a magazine or product and convert those images into animation. Imagine the possibilities of turning a picture from a newspaper into a video — or pointing a device toward a product and launching a game with animated characters.

Aurasma, according to CNET, “is capable of recognizing images and objects and enhancing them not just by replacing them with video but by allowing virtual objects to interact with real ones, such as a cartoon character walking through the door of a real building.” The technology could offer interesting possibilities for advertising applications, providing additional product information, creating virtual tours and much more.

The New York Times reports that Autonomy plans to release Aurasma as a free app as soon as next month. The article also suggests an unnamed movie studio will use the technology for an augmented reality game to accompany a new movie release.

For additional information, CNET has posted a 12-minute podcast interview with Autonomy CEO Mike Lynch. There is also a video demo available on YouTube.

6 Comments

  1. What if your phone search started with your snapshot and gave you related videos? Of course, some will be ads.
    Could this become an easy way to navigate to movies and tv shows you want?

  2. What if your phone search started with your snapshot and gave you related videos? Of course, some will be ads.
    Could this become an easy way to navigate to movies and tv shows you want?

  3. An interesting new technology, Aurasma, is being compared to that which brought newspaper pictures to animated life in the “Harry Potter” movies. From the U.K.-based enterprise software firm Autonomy. The New York Times also ran a piece http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/07/augmented-reality-comes-closer-to-reality/?ref=technology indicating that an unnamed movie studio will be among the first to commercially deploy this.

  4. An interesting new technology, Aurasma, is being compared to that which brought newspaper pictures to animated life in the “Harry Potter” movies. From the U.K.-based enterprise software firm Autonomy. The New York Times also ran a piece http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/07/augmented-reality-comes-closer-to-reality/?ref=technology indicating that an unnamed movie studio will be among the first to commercially deploy this.

  5. One of my students raised an interesting point during his tech-themed radio show this week. He said he might be more likely to purchase a printed newspaper upon occasion, if this app brought selected images to life. Interesting perspective from a digital native…

  6. One of my students raised an interesting point during his tech-themed radio show this week. He said he might be more likely to purchase a printed newspaper upon occasion, if this app brought selected images to life. Interesting perspective from a digital native…

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