We've recently seen augmented reality used in some pretty clever ways in the gaming space, but Sony subsidiary ConnectED has come up with a way to turn real-time graphical overlays into an educational tool. Using a PSP equipped with a camera, the "Second Sight" technology allows tags embedded in textbooks or magazines to cue relevant audio or video clips directly on the PSP.
The program can also create interactive 3D models which the user can examine by changing the orientation of the PSP. Check out the video after the jump to see a video demonstration of what we're talking about, and then imagine how awesome school is going to be in like, fifteen years.
Update: We recently heard from Matthew Prodger, studio director at Black Ridge Technologies, who explained that his company was the actual developer and owner of the technology, while ConnectED is simply the distributor of the tech on the PSP. He also said the technology would appear on mobile phones for use in "museums, books, magazines and newspapers over the coming year."
[Via Siliconera]
Reader Comments (22)
Posted: Mar 20th 2010 10:25AM aristokrat said
I get it, you are telling me not to miss the exclamation point. Well, the only one I see is hovering to the right of your post, so I guess I press it if I must.
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Posted: Mar 20th 2010 2:30AM Typicalgamer said
the psp camera and gps was supposed to be released in the US in 2008. It is currently 2010. wth....
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Posted: Mar 20th 2010 2:32AM Typicalgamer said
why isn't sony selling the camera in the US yet?!!??
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Posted: Mar 20th 2010 2:57AM (Unverified) said
DUDE.. PUT THESE IN SCHOOLS NOW!!!
If I had this in school I'd be so A++ material.. that is so crazy man.
Imagine this + Sid Meier + World History class O_O
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If I had this in school I'd be so A++ material.. that is so crazy man.
Imagine this + Sid Meier + World History class O_O
Posted: Mar 20th 2010 7:07AM whylekat said
We were allowed to play Oreagon Trail in history class for a month... But then we installed this drug oriented version of Pac-Man where instead of eating pellets and ghosts, you ate dollar signs and pot leafs. Can't rememeber what it was called but needless to say.. They promptly disbanded the computer lab. They agreed it wasn't suitable for 7th graders..
Ohh the 90's. How I barely sorta kinda miss very few aspects about you.
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Ohh the 90's. How I barely sorta kinda miss very few aspects about you.
Posted: Mar 20th 2010 3:20AM Marcus Carter said
This is awesome .....when are they going to put this to good use?
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Posted: Mar 20th 2010 3:46AM (Unverified) said
Um ... doesn't the trademark for "Second Sight" already belong to a Free Radical game?
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Posted: Mar 20th 2010 4:26AM (Unverified) said
Sorry, I don't see the big deal. So, you are reading some text, see the image, have to put down your book, grab the PSP, move it exactly over the image just so you can get a big of video or a 3D image?
Why not just use interactive software on normal PCs?
Mo
Reply
Why not just use interactive software on normal PCs?
Mo
Posted: Mar 20th 2010 11:41AM Bobulous said
Because you might not want to tie up a whole lesson with interactive software for one brief mention of something? Because it makes learning from traditional books more stimulating? Because if you equip all the children in your class with these tools, it's easier than trying to crowd them round a PC or cheaper than giving them all laptops? Dunno, there a probably a hundred different reasons why you might want this in your classroom.
Will we be using paper books in classrooms in 15 years though? That's another question altogether.
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Will we be using paper books in classrooms in 15 years though? That's another question altogether.
Posted: Mar 20th 2010 9:06AM SisypheanLife said
Damn damn damn. I saw Second Sight and thought it was something about that awesome and unnoticed PS2 game. Its on my list of games that I would like to see a sequel/spiritual-sequel for but never will. Such as:
Second Sight
XIII
Psy-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy
Gladius
War of the Monsters
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Second Sight
XIII
Psy-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy
Gladius
War of the Monsters
Posted: Mar 20th 2010 3:54PM DarknessBear said
Are you guys seriously impressed by this? This tech has been out for a while. Nobody remembers the secret codes released for AC2? And also this is on magazines and websites. The tech has been VASTLY improved and makes this demonstration look terrible.
Even the Eye of Judgement did this better...
Reply
Even the Eye of Judgement did this better...
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