Symbian Multimarker Tracking Library

#augmentedreality
Demo-version of binary Symbian multimarker tracking library SMMT available for download.
SMMT library is a SLAM multimarker tracker for Symbian. Library can work on Symbian S60 9.1 devices like Nokia N73 and Symbian 9.2 like Nokia N95, N82. It may also work on some other later versions. This version support only landscape 320×240 resolution for algorithmical reason – size used in the optimization.
This is slightly more advanced version of the tracker used in AR Tower Defense game.
PS corrupted file fixed

The Register article mention AR Tower Defense

The Register article on Augmented Reality make a mention of AR Tower Defense.

PS. In relation to this article, if smartphone need better display for AR – what mobile AR device need first

New version of Augmented Reality Tower Defense

A new version of AR Tower Defense – v0.03 Some bugs fixed (black screen bug)
and minor tracking improvement

Five Centuries of Board Games

Great post by bibliodyssey about board games from 16 to 20 centuries.

Fullscreen version of AR Tower defense is up for download

AR Tower Defense is fullscreen now. I ‘ve also changed default mode from portrait to landscape.

Fullscreen AR Tower Defense is on the way.

Fullscreen version of the AR Tower Defense moving along nicely. I have changed default screen position from portrait to landscape. Don’t see any noticeable slowdown now. I’m thinking about increasing the number of markers from 6 to 9, but I’m not sure. Too many markers would clog the table…

PS It’s here already

N95 camera distortion part 2

Could be wrong.
Actually what caused my presumed mistake was this research on the Nokia N95 camera calibration
N95 Distortion Evaluation

They got huge distortion estimation – like 3% of the screen width. I don’t detect anything like this in the 320×240 viewfinder. My upper bound is like .7% (though I didn’t do complete calibration, just did some rectangles shots).

N95 camera distortion ?

I’m making full screen version of my AR Tower Defense game, and stumble at some strange problem. It seems to me the camera distortion is absent if I’m getting scaled down viewfinder image (or may be it’s just cropped). If I’m getting full viewfinder image it looks like some camera distortion creep in – seems markers getting distorted. I may have to calibrate camera, and that would create portability problem. The game will work only for N95 camera…

Marker-based AR application and games could be viable.

Blair MacIntyre written in his blog that he consider markers for AR to be a “prop”: “As soon as your start requiring props, that makes the games less portable … a conundrum to be sure.” Whoever it could be that marker-based AR games/app are not actually so bad.
Edge report that “79 percent [of those polled say] they use their portable device in-home, far more than any other location.”
The interesting thing that in-door marker-based tracking have no disadvantages comparing with markerless. Markers could be easily placed on any flat surface, or taped/pinned to vertical surface. Most of surfaces are at the right angles, so one can even make easy to track non-planar multimaker arrangement – like putting markers both on the table and the adjacent wall. In some cases, like on smooth uniform surfaces only marker-based tracker can actually work, markerless would just fail there. Of cause markereless tracking is more scientifically impressive and fun to develop, but marker-based works right now )))
From business point of view marker based apps and games can provide interesting opportunity – non-intrusive mobile advertising. Instead of pushing ad into the face of the user, on the screen, occupying precious screen real estate, ad or logo can be put on the marker itself. That way it remain both highly visible and non-annoying. Different ad bearing markers could be keyed to different content units, thus providing ads rotation.

Augmented Reality Tower Defense game is up for download

It’s here. In this demo I’ve used the same multimarker tracker I’ve used in last demos. 3d position of the camera calculated form markers used for placing tower. Third dimension used to control tower height
If you don’t know what Tower Defense is, here is wiki entry