Header and Featured Post for Client

I've spent the afternoon tidying up the header and featured post section of my client project.

I'm using a custom file for the home page entitled 'myfront.php' which will include a featured post. I'm hoping to add a little show/hide jQuery to the featured blog post and I need to sort out some PHP which will applies the image contained within the post as the background image. I may have to create a custom field within the post for this to work.

I've pulled the search bar from the header from previous designs as it cluttered the header a little. I've also increased the space between certain sections of the Twitter bar, side bar and featured post. I've also improved the CSS3 features on the navigation buttons and on the Twitter bar.

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Artefact 5 - Planning for the Creation of my Augmented Reality Business Card

To summaries my last artefact, it has given me good grounding for my next artefact (number 5) for developing my own Augmented Reality business card which will (hopefully) include virtual video content.

In researching methods to do this I've found two pathways to follow; One being an ActionScript 3.0 version utilizing a computer or laptop webcam, and the second pathway of developing it for Android using an Augmented Reality Software Development Kit (AR SDK) by Qualcomm.

In following the second pathway, I could actually use it on a supported mobile device which would be brilliant, but I'm struggling to get my head around the code, etc. so may have to keep to a simpler ActionScript 3.0 version until the next artefact.

I feel like I'm just scratching the surface but hopefully I can get the ball rolling over the next few days.

I'm also looking at the use of green screen to have my video with no background when displayed from the business card.

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Artefact 4 - Evaluation of my Augmented Reality Business Card Concepts

Reflecting back on my research topic and what I’ve learnt from the
last artefact, I wanted to include the use of Augmented Reality in the
sharing of information and ideas. I therefore took the results from my
last artefact and integrated a QR Code business card with an Augmented
Reality marker. I then developed 4 concepts of how this Augmented
Reality would work to test with users. These concepts included a
simple image/avatar,  a portfolio/flipbook, video content and finally
social media links.

Although these weren’t working prototypes, results from generating
these concepts showed that users preferred the portfolio/flipbook and
the video content to the other, simpler concepts. Opinions showed that
the ability to include a large amount of information on the flipbook
was a likeable quality however the QR Code within the marker could be
used to link to a website or portfolio which would be more suitable.
In using Augmented Reality to generate a virtual person within the
video it brings something unique to the virtual environment.

Users were also questioned on least effective concept with the simple
image and social media links scoring the highest. Comments that
emerged  from this highlighted the need for ease of use in accessing
the extra information, explanation of the icons and the inclusion of
more interactivity.

Finally over half the users agreed that they would adopt the business
card that included the Augmented Reality video content with the
portfolio/flipbook getting a positive response too. Reasoning behind
this came from the ability to present yourself as a designer which
would firstly show off your personality and secondly to put a name to
a face or brand.

To summarise, this artefact has given me good grounding for my next
artefact developing my own Augmented Reality business card which will
include virtual video content.

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Artefact 4 - Presentation

artefact4.pdf Download this file

Concepts for Augmented Reality Business Cards, Artefact 4.

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Take a look at my fourth artefact - Concepts for Augmented Reality Business Cards

Take a look at my fourth artefact and then fill in the survey that's linked to the page.

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Artefact 4 - 4 Uses of Augmented Reality with a Business Card

Here are four different concepts for an Augmented Reality business card. I want to find out which one people believe to be the most beneficial to then go ahead with and create it for real (hopefully)

 

The types of AR include -

• Simple image/avatar
• A portfolio/flipbook navigated through by clicking on the red arrows
• A video with audio. This would include either a personal introduction or the reading of my CV
• Various social media links

I've also come across 'Junaio' an Augmented Reality browser - http://www.junaio.com/ which is similar to 'Layar' - http://www.layar.com/ which may be worth a look at, especially the developer side of things.

See the full gallery on Posterous

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Artefact 4 - Looking into the development of Augmented Reality with the FLARToolKit ((tags: Artefact, Augmented Reality, PRP, Personal Research Project, QR Codes, Quick Response Codes, FLARToolKit, NYARToolKit)

I'm trying to learn how to create an QR-based Augmented Reality business card for my artefact.

 

So to start ARToolKit is the development package that has allowed developers to tap into the power of Augmented Reality and FLARToolKit is an ActionScript 3 port of the Java version of the toolkit. I have therefore found the following sites to help me create my Augmented Reality business card a reality!

 

Google Group on the FLARToolKit - http://groups.google.com/group/flartoolkit-userz and through this conversation - http://groups.google.com/group/flartoolkit-userz/browse_thread/thread/d48a660723ebe756?pli=1 I've found this blog article explaining how QR Codes can mix with AR - http://makc3d.wordpress.com/2009/10/30/augmented-reality-and-qr-codes/ which gives me this AS3 code - http://code.google.com/p/makc/source/browse/trunk/flash/qr_flar/PoC.as

 

Also this FLARToolKit intoduction has been helpful - http://www.scribd.com/doc/27363030

 

However looking further into how the video below works, the QR Codes resolve to certain codes like 'QRA:3DScyborx10xl' This shows that although the QR Code is being used for AR, it's not able to resolve to a web link or more relevant data. The code that it displays is obviously linked with an XML file of some sorts which generates the 3D image which makes it all possible.

 

 

Further research revealed that I could code into the ActionScript a QR Code Reader that recognizes and decodes any QR Code from any image source - http://blog.jactionscripters.com/2009/05/23/introduction-of-qr-code-reader-library/ which would then and load results into 3D engine.

 

So here's where I can download the FLARToolKit http://www.libspark.org/wiki/saqoosha/FLARToolKit/en

 

Tutorials on Augmented Reality - http://saqoo.sh/a/en/flartoolkit/start-up-guide , http://www.mikkoh.com/blog/2008/12/flartoolkitflash-augmented-realitygetting-started/ and http://www.marcpelland.com/2009/03/26/getting-started-with-augmented-reality-flartoolkit/

 

From all this I need to produce my own AR/QR Code business card. But first, as doing this will take a long time, I want to find out what would be the best using this AR. I want to check what people would find the most beneficial use of AR on a business card would be.

 

The uses could include -

• A simple 3D avatar
• A virtual flip book of my portfolio
• A video/3D presentation
• Social Network links

Although I would be using AS3, I would like to base my AR App on a mobile device which could complicate things a little. A fix to this would be using the NYARToolKit as I could develop it for Android - http://nyatla.jp/nyartoolkit/wiki/index.php?FrontPage.en

 

Finally to finish off this mash-up of web links to various things, for your enjoyment... Augmented Reality on an iPad2 (personal highlight - Zombie AR game at the end)

 

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Artefact 4 - Further Development

So the plan is to integrate a QR Code and an AR marker to create a 2-in-1 business card. It can then be used as an AR marker to show 3D content via a webcam or smartphone or can be scanned by a QR Reader to get the contact details within the QR Code.

Here are some examples of QR-based Augmented Reality -

Now putting this idea onto a business card could come out with something like this...

via http://visualcard.me/

This example also offers the ability for anyone to create their own AR business card, however in trying to sign up I haven't been able to get any login details sent through to my email address. This is probably due to some problems with their site.

One of the best examples of an AR business card can be found below. It also includes a QR Code however it's slightly separated from the AR marker.

via http://www.t-o-x-i-n.de/index.php/2009/07/18/allgemein/augmented-businesscard-english/

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Artefact 4 -

I was reading through some of my notes for my previous artefacts and found some interesting points which will hopefully help me with my fourth artefact. I still want to keep close to my research document question in doing this artefact too - Could the use of QR Codes and Augmented Reality improve the way we share information and communicate with each other?

• Without me telling you anything about myself and given that I'm happy to share all my information with you, would you be able to virtually get information from me via the use of a QR Codes and Augmented Reality

With keeping this idea of sharing personal information with a business card, I want to look at a more developed concept of the business card. This includes the use of Augmented Reality.

I want to look at face recognition software which would recognise a persons face and augment their virtual business card around their heads. I know there's already a concept idea for this as seen below, but I want to develop it and see how it can be improved. Ultimately I would like to develop my own version of this but I'm not entirely sure how I will go about it.

Here are some Action Script face recognition videos that I've found that might help -

And some face recognition software that might be of help - http://www.pittpatt.com/

And a final video of using just AR on a card. This could be the first step to artefact 4.

Using AR and a QR Code on a business card then to maybe develop that idea in the next artefact suggesting 'what if you don't have a business card at all?'

Some more geo-location based comments I took from my note book too -

• Creating a digital footprint
• Voice you opinion in a QR code and attach it to a government building
• Using QR codes to find events each venue has a QR code with navigates you to the venue.

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QR Code - Content-rich Resume

Just brilliant! Will have to have a go at doing one of these myself!

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