Credit: Jessica Clarke
Augmented reality is a live view of a physical environment with elements that have a computer generated sensory input. An extension on a current desktop system created by HITLab Australia in collaboration with national science agency CSIRO, 'Magic Map' allows scientists to view a map with location-specific, 3D representations of the temperature, rainfall, wind and cloud cover, by utilising local sensor networks.
The CSIRO are now taking the product to people who might be interested in exploring this augmented reality world themselves. By developing an app for iPhone and iPad, the general public can remotely access the same information previously only used by scientists at the CSIRO.
When holding the device with the 'Magic Map' app over a map, you can view up to date weather phenomenon from the local sensor networks as a 3D map and data visualisation. "The focus is portability and really putting it into the hands of the public rather than having this machine at CSIRO that's useful for the scientists," says Jessica Clarke, who worked on the app while participating in the CSIRO Summer Vacation program this summer.
"I am fascinated by human-computer interaction, and when designing new systems, I always consider the best way to make a system more user friendly and intuitive," says Clarke.
Clarke discovered first-hand how technology can become intuitive in people's nature. Recently, her 18-month-old son developed the skills to use an iPad on his own.
"He is able to swipe through the apps and pick the app he wants. I find this so exciting and fascinating that technology can be so simple and intuitive!" says Clarke. "Technology shouldn't be scary. It should be easy to use! That's the beauty of the app I'm developing."
People can hold the iPad up to view a scene, and the sensor data is interpreted and visualised for them so that they can quickly make a decision in real-time that will benefit them most. Clarke has also worked in the past with other fusions of mobile technology and sensor networks, and investigated different augmented reality kits.
While it is still at prototype stage, the technology is expected to be available to the general public in the not too distant future as it utilises existing infrastructure in the iPads and sensory network information.
