MOBILE GAMING, AUGMENTED REALITY
Natural next steps..
Augmented Reality is technology that is placed on top of virtual reality allowing viewers not only to be transported to anywhere but have interactive components as well as intangible objects inserted into the location one visits. So one can say AR is simply an overlay of images and text onto a virtual reality. The big hit a few years back was the game on your phone, Pokemon Go! Today we have apps that go far beyond Pokemon. AR is new technology that is continuing to be developed into applications that are used as games and educational tools.
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WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT? WHERE IS IT GOING?
Forget Virtual Reality, the new future is Augmented Reality! From Minecraft Earth and Pokemon Go to everyday applications in schools, hospitals and homes. But exactly how much potential does AR technology have?
IN EDUCATION?
"Decades of research have shown that computer technology in the classroom can enrich teaching and learning and boost student achievement, compared to teaching without such aids. Augmented Reality (AR), which enables the seamless connection of the digital and physical domains, is one of the newest technologies applied to education." (Billinghurst and Duenser, 2012, p. 56)
The video below inspires the use of AR in educational settings through Wonderscope.
REMEMBER WHEN POKEMON GO DROPPED INTO THE WORLD?
It blew us away and changed the way we see gaming.
In a study about the Influence of Pokémon Go on Physical Activity researchers found that "Pokémon Go leads to significant increases in physical activity over a period of 30 days, with particularly engaged users increasing their activity by 1473 steps a day on average, a more than 25% increase compared with their prior activity level. In the short time span of the study, we estimate that Pokémon Go has added a total of 144 billion steps to US physical activity." (Althoff, 2016)
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Although there are few studies that show the long term effects of mobile gaming, this shows mobile gaming can "lead to substantial short-term activity increases and, in contrast to many existing interventions and mobile health apps, have the potential to reach activity-poor populations." (Althoff, 2016)
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This inspires me.
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Not only is the technology becoming more available, the motivation from the public is there.
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