Week 11: 11/4- 11/8

For my final post on this blog I want to reflect on this class. I simply signed up for the course because Eddie Smith told me it would fulfill a requirement for my minor. I had no idea what I was getting into, literally. And on the first day of class when we discussed the syllabus and what we would be covering, I contemplated dropping the course. I called my dad and told him I had no idea what augmented reality was, and didn’t know how it would relate to my career or my overall education. With his advice (which seems to be ALWAYS right), I chose to stick it out, and I am so thankful that I did.

11 weeks later I have a new found interest for augmented reality and am constantly thinking of ways I can incorporate it into my career. Because I am an aspiring sports public relations professional, I have to be very aware of any and all technological advancements. I believe that even my very basic knowledge of augmented reality has put me a step ahead of my peers in the job marketplace.

Also, I wish other professors, especially those in the communication studies department, would require the use of augmented reality in our projects and papers. I believe that incorporating this new interface into my work would give it an edge and be much more influential.

 

I am so happy that I did not drop after the first day and I am so thankful for everything I have learned in this class pertaining to augmented reality. I hope to one day, as a sports public relations professional to use augmented reality with the teams that I represent. I could create an aura that would make my sport’s media guide more easily accessible. I could also use augmented reality to provide player interviews to the public. The possibilities are endless, especially as augmented reality is improved over the course of the next few years.

Week 10: 10/28-11/1

The final chapter in Craig’s book is on augmented reality applications. The author writes, “Content development is the current bottleneck, but developers are creating powerful content development and publishing platforms as this text is being written.” I completely agree with this statement. Although augmented reality is in the very early stages. As fast as this area is growing, Craig’s may even be outdated by now. Augmented reality is stretching to education, advertising, and medicine.

To me, I think augmented reality could have a lasting effect in medicine. In the previous chapter Craig discussed how medicine is using augmented reality into relate anatomy. I believe that medicine could very easily expand on this. Because medicine is often just a complex subject and doctor’s many times find themselves struggling to relate difficult circumstances to their patients, physicians could use augmented reality to better explain their diagnoses. Patients whose results are interactive and straight forward may have a much better chance of understanding their problems, and also may be more influenced to make the necessary changes because the problem was visually placed in front of their face.

Augmented reality has the chance to make a lot of impact in the technology world, as long as it remains simplistic. During the integration phase, it is important that designers maintain a low maintenance and proceed with caution. At the same time like I said before, designers should use as much creativity as possible. With any new product, there is a very fine line to be walked with augmented reality. Especially because it can be used across multiple platforms and there are various routes for application, augmented reality has the potential to change human interaction, very similar to the social media has transitioned our interaction.

Overall when discussing augmented reality application there are many routes a designer could choose but I think to begin they should focus on mobile application because it has the widest reach and the highest frequency as well. Once augmented reality is firmly established in this genre, only then will augmented reality really flourish. Like I said before, similar to social media augmented reality has the potential to change human interaction, but only if this new interface expands properly.

Week 9: 10/21-10/25

Craig writes, “Mobile augmented reality is one of the most explosive growth areas for augmented reality applications currently. Mobile augmented reality takes advantage of the widely distributed base of hardware such as smartphones and tablets.”

To me, without a doubt, augmented reality will have the most success in the mobile interface. Mobile interaction is very user friendly, and therefore augmented reality will in turn be user friendly, if accessed through mobile channels.

I have really enjoyed the facebook page and reading what everyone else in the class is finding on augmented reality. Just from watching what everyone has posted, I think our class has found the most stuff on mobile augmented reality. It is very interesting, especially how companies different companies are using augmented reality to enhance their products.

Recently, I found where Audi is converting their owner’s manual into an interface that uses augmented reality. To me, this is genius. I believe the owner’s manual is the least used product sold with the car, but not Audi has made this item easily accessible and even more user friendly. Because of augmented reality, Audi care owners can now turn to the manual with ease and learn more than ever about their product. Audi is just one example of how companies are using augmented reality to supplement their already great products.

I believe that mobile augmented reality is one of the only ways in which augmented reality will have a lasting effect on our high-speed society. Although the different types of augmented reality are really great, it is through mobile augmented reality that this new type of interface will really explode.

Week 8: 10/14-10/18

After reading Craig’s chapter on interaction I found myself to more concerned with this phase of augmented reality more than any other. In my opinion, interaction is the single most important aspect of augmented reality. After all, no matter what type of interface you use, if you do not require the consumer to interact, your medium will not be successful.

Just like the book says, the level of interaction is completely up to the creator, but because augmented reality allows for endless amounts of creativity, interaction should increase. Consumers, now more than ever, are engaged in technology, and constantly longing for improvements in interaction. In the modern age, augmented reality is judged on its effectiveness through is optimal use of interaction. Craig states, “The are a number of different scenarios by which a participant can interact with a virtual world, an augmented reality application, or other people in the experience.” Augmented reality allows for consumers to not only interact with the interface but with other consumers as well. Consumers who use augmented reality effectively will interact with each other at a higher level.

I believe that it is the ultimate job of a designer incorporates effective interaction. Craig states, “Interactivity is a key ingredient to the medium of augmented reality.” He also says, “It would be wise for augmented reality developers to stretch their creativity to the max when it comes to creating interactions in their augmented reality applications.”

Finally, interaction should not be forced. Designers should work to incorporate interactions seamlessly into their projects. Effective augmented reality should require users to be engaged through easy interaction. I think as augmented reality is more fully developed and more incorporated into modern media, we will see interaction increase.

For now, I think designers should be more equipped to take risks in their design. Because the interface of augmented reality is relatively new, designers are forging unknown territory with interaction. Designer should focus on effective interaction and communication, but also willing to take creative risks in their approach and design.

Week 7: 10/7-10/11

This week, although we moved to a class setting that is much more focused on student productivity than a lecture based setting. We were assigned three different projects that with take up the remainder of our class time to complete. With that being said, I found the reading selection this week to be entirely too timely. I had written in the past couple of blogs about how I question augmented reality’s ability to stay around through the course of time. I questioned whether or not augmented reality would be able to make a real impact on technology and if maybe eventually there would be degree programs available for augmented reality.

Chapter 5 in the Craig book covers content. To me, this is the most important part of augmented reality developing sustainability. The author talks about augmented reality having the potential to use all five senses in interaction. This made me consider the Food Network. I would be very interested to see if engineers at the Food Network would be able to incorporate smell into their shows. Viewers would be able to see, and also smell, what their favorite chefs were cooking. I think if engineers are able to create something very similar to this environment through augmented reality, this new technology will survive.

I would also be interested to see how the medical profession could incorporate augmented reality into their career. I think doctors and nurses alike would be able to communicate their, sometimes, complicated terms and diagnoses better through interactive situations that augmented reality has the potential to create. Also, augmented reality could change the way medicine is taught in the classroom. Interaction would encourage students to be more engaged. Once potential doctors see it in the classroom, they might be more likely to use it in their own practices.

In the summary on page 182 the author writes, “Without good content and AP application is nothing more than a technological novelty.” He goes on to say, “The more that AR application developers can learn about other media, especially interactive media, the better they are equipped to use AR as a medium in a compelling way.” I think this is very, very true. Developers have to create compelling content in order to have sustainability. Once designers understand and operate under this impression, I think augmented reality will really begin to take off. Augmented reality has the capability to have a lasting impression, but only if done the correct way.

Week 6: 9/30-10/4

For this week’s reading we were assigned chapter 4 in the Understanding Augmented Reality book. This book focuses on augmented reality software. Although I am not particularly interested in augmented reality software, I found this chapter to be a just a little bit interesting. Especially, the section on augmented reality libraries. I never even considered that something like that would exist. I have wrote a lot about how I had no idea what augmented reality was before this class, and of course the more I learn, the more intrigued I am with this new technology concept.

Because there was such a focus on design and building augmented reality from a computer based perspective in this chapter, I began to consider where augmented reality would be in just five to ten years. Specifically, I if universities and other places of higher education will begin to offer courses, and maybe eventually majors, in augmented reality. For example, the textile major at Clemson has evolved into Graphic Communications. Today, Clemson has one of the best Graphic Communication programs in the country. Will a certain discourse in engineering evolve into augmented reality engineering? Is augmented reality something that is going to stick around and completely change the way things are presented, or is it just a fad that will not last past  the millennial generation? These are all questions that I consider when reading Craig’s book. More importantly, I wonder if Craig is wasting his time devoting a bunch of research and expertise to this one specific area or if augmented reality really is here to stay? I think only time will tell.

At the same time, I think it would be interesting to look back in fifteen years and see augmented reality developed into a degree program at a university. I will also be interested too see how augmented reality is used in nearly every career field. From teachers to construction workers to politicians, I can see areas where augmented reality can be applied, I am just left with the skeptic question of, “will it work? I cannot answer these questions, and only time can, but I really think it’s something important to consider, especially when reading about all the software that is being developed for augmented reality.

Week 5: 9/23-9/27

This week in class we produced our first assignment with augmented reality. Unexpectedly, I really enjoyed this project. At the beginning of the course, I had hard time understanding exactly what augmented reality was. I, even considered dropping the class because I was not sure how the material covered in the class would help me in my career. Fortunately, when I was working through this project, I really began to grow fond of augmented reality and what is offers to a communication major.

Although the auras I created were not very extensive or elaborate, I really have a clear understanding of what augmented reality can add to my career field. After receiving my master’s degree in Sports Management, I hope to work in the Communications office at an athletics department, a professional organization, or even a conference office. Because I will be working with athletes, who have tons of other obligations, I think augmented reality could be extremely beneficial to me. I can see myself creating a presentation on the guidelines and best practices for social media use and using an application like Aurasma to enhance the presentation with interactive ways for the organization’s ideas to be pushed. Specifically, I could make an aura where it links to an athlete’s social media page that was displayed proper use. I could also create an aura that links to news stories on the misuse of social media. By using augmented reality in my workforce, I hope to set myself apart for my peers.

Augmented reality could also assist in the hiring process as well. If a candidate’s resume was interactive with auras, it would encourage employers to read beyond the paper and discover a much better candidate than what was expected. For example, because I have a really large interest in social media, I would provide a aura that links to my social media pages, so that my potential employer could access my material, very easily. I would also create an aura attached to my name on my resume to my LinkedIn page.

I believe that augmented reality needs to be adapted more in the workforce. If employers take the time to use augmented reality in the hiring and also presentation process, I think they will find more engaged and excited employees and customers. After all, I am thankful that I signed for this class and decided to stay it, after some early caution, because I feel like I am gaining knowledge about new technology that cannot be replicated in another setting.

Week 4: 9/16-9/20

This week in class we continued to discuss augmented reality. We covered chapter two in the Craig book. The section on concepts related to augmented reality was very interesting to me. Specifically, the section on computer graphics was engaging. The book states “computer graphics are visual images created by a computer.” The author discussed all the different techniques and approaches in computer graphics, and more specifically that many of them can also be used in augmented reality.

            To me the hardest part of augmented reality is really creating the dimensions. For example, I do not want to create augmented reality that does not change dimension. I think augmented reality will have the best affect if the user creates different levels and different dimensions, and really challenges the audience to be engaged. Another major problem with augmented reality is latency. Especially, in a society where we expect results in seconds, at the longest, latency is an area that needs improvement for even the most effective augmented reality. The problem is, however, I do not think humans will be able to improve latency enough so that users and the audience will both be happy. I would predict that as technology improves, so will latency, but it will never really be eliminated.

            Finally, the six experiences of the augmented reality experience were interesting to me. After they were explained in class, I feel like I have a little bit better understanding of them, but I do agree with my classmates that many of the ideas seem to overlap and it is hard to draw a real clear line between each element.

            I would like to learn more about the other applications that are available for creating augmented reality. I think if we were exposed to the other ways it can be created, I may gain a better understanding of augmented reality. If would also challenge me to consider Aurasma and how it compares to the other available forms of augment reality development. It is my hope that augmented reality will really take off once the Google Glass is officially put on the market. It will be interesting to look back on this class in three to five years and see where augmented reality has taken us since it’s inception.

            Overall, I am very happy I decided to enroll in this class for my minor. I think I am learning things and being exposed to things at the infant level, and hope that upon the completion of the course I have a solid knowledge base of augmented reality that will put be ahead of my peers or competitors in the job market.

 

Week 3: 9/9-9/13

Before this class I had not clue what augmented reality was. Now, after just a couple short weeks of talking about it, I find myself looking for augmented reality in nearly every facet of my life. I really think augmented reality is going to become very evident in the next year or so, especially with the upcoming release of the Google Glasses. Because augmented reality allows social interaction with the user, it provides a more hands-on environment for both technology novices and professionals. I really hope to see augmented reality have more of an influence on media and technology as it improves over time.

            I found it interesting that as early as chapter one, Craig begins to pick apart augmented reality. He states that some of the major problems with augmented reality are lack of speed, space problems, and registration. Even with my very scarce exposure to augmented reality, I often find myself frustrated with the lack of speed and registration problems. When using the Aurasma application, I find that if the image is not recognized within the first second or so, I think there is something wrong with the application or the image itself. Similar to all technology, I know this will only get better with time, and augmented reality will improve as it is integrated more efficiently throughout everyday life.

            Going back to Craig’s criticisms, I think it is interesting that he offers suggests of where augmented reality can improve. On page 21, Craig states that augmented reality’s main purpose is to enhance but also simplify technology. I found this be compelling. For example, in the real estate market augmented reality could be used to provide virtual tours of places on the market online, just by looking at the pictures available. This would enhance the social interaction, but also simplify it. At the same time, technical glitches in the system may yield consumer frustration and therefore turn people away from their website.

            I never realized how much augmented reality was in fact in movies and things like that until after I learned what it was. From the example you showed in class, Top Gun offers a wide range of augmented reality. The fight scenes, especially, engage the sound and visual senses. They use different overlays to make their action much more demanding.

            For me, augmented reality is a concept I do not fully understand, but I know by the end of the class, I will have a very solid understanding of the idea. I really hope that we are able to access the Google Glasses once they come out. I think they will enhance our classroom discussion greatly and will help in better understanding augmented reality. Now, even at the beginning of the course, and freshly introduced to the concept, I find myself seeking out augmented reality in my every day life. It is my prediction, that within the coming years, especially the next three to five, augmented reality will be very evident in our society, even more than it already maybe.

Week 2: 9/2-9/6

This week we broke up the McLuhan in order to get it over with (THANK GOODNESS!). Even though we covered sections clothing, housing, money, clocks, print, comics, printed word, press, motorcar, games, telegraph, telephone, television, and weapons, the section that left the biggest impression on me was the one regarding photography.

The author talks about how a photo can isolate a single moment in time and the camera turns people into an object. He also stated that photography allows for repeatability and uniformity. I believe all of these things are true, but pulling from my Popular Culture class, I would like to look at photography a little bit differently.

It is important to note that most of the time we stage pictures and photography so that the best is displayed. In other words, we do not photography a fight between two parties at a family reunion, instead we photography the generations present, or maybe the annual kickball tournament. Although what McLuhan says is correct, in that it pinpoints a single moment in time, he does not elaborate on what type of moment that may be.

I did not realize when I signed up to take these two classes at the same time that I would be able to connect our readings in Electronic Media to our discussions in Popular culture. I am happy though to be able to make these connections between disciplines and really develop a better understanding of the concepts.

Overall, I found the McLuhan book very hard to follow at times, and I did not appreciate his very long tangents. For example, in the chapter dedicated to the phonograph, he wrote an entire three pages on the development of Jazz. I think he could of made his point a lot clearer and a lot easier, had to suck to his reasons for writing the book in the first place.

We also looked a little deeper at Costello’s book and talked about collaboration, preproduction, and research. I really think its interesting to read about the early stages of websites and how they have evolved over time.

With all of this being said, I would be very interested to sit down with McLuhan and see what he has to say about today’s technology. I would be extremely interested in knowing whether or not he believes his book directly identified technology and its evolution. I would also be interested to see what predictions he could make as to the evolution of technology in the future. I think McLuhan, although somewhat off the beaten path, makes very evident points in his work. He uses a lot of reflection and deep analysis. I think his eventual development of the four media theories provides a very meaningful basis for research in the future of media in technology.