Considered the best augmented reality app (always with Layar's permission), Wikitude World Browser received one of its biggest updates. Now you can integrate the geolocated information that our friends post on Facebook. In addition, we will be able to create our own worlds in which only the information that interests us most will appear.
The possibility of use the mobile camera as a reality viewer in which to display all the information on the internet about the area we are in opened up a whole new world for the use of augmented reality. However, after its initial explosion, applications like Wikitude or Layar They have not yet managed to convince to the general public of its usefulness.
However, Wikitude is trying again with its Wikitude World Browser, with which make augmented reality more social. Leveraging the Facebook API, Wikitude now allows us to view any information posted by friends if they've included their location. Whether it's status updates, photos, or check-ins, they all appear in your virtual browser.
For those who don't know These augmented reality applications, just tell them that on the screen they can see different types of georeferenced information, from restaurants and pizzerias around us to how to get to that amazing apartment we saw for rent, to the tweets posted by the people we follow. To avoid flooding the data viewer, Wikitude organizes this information into worlds.
Now Wikitude us allows us to reorganize these worlds according to our interests and tastes. In addition, it offers the possibility of creating our own world (myWorld) with different places that we can even share with friends.
How to view augmented reality with Wikitude
Wikitude uses the camera as viewfinder and combines GPS and compass data to know where you are and where you're pointing. Over that view, it overlays information layers from sources such as Wikipedia, Twitter comments, TripAdvisor or Yelp reviews, and Google MapsAnd including useful points of interest such as ATMs or nearby shops.
Thanks to technologies of image and text recognition along with Arcore and geolocation, the system interprets the context and displays the most relevant data. The app allows you to explore and examine tens of millions of locations and interactive content, search for specific sites and discover nearby objects or monuments with an immersive and practical approach.
Worlds, myWorld and social integration
Los worlds They act as thematic filters: you can activate only gastronomy, transportation, culture, or shopping to avoid on-screen noise. With myWorld, it's possible create a world of your own with your favorite places, tag sites and share them so others can discover the spots that interest you most.
The social layer adds an extra utility: by integrating geolocated posts from your contacts, you'll see photos, statuses, or check-ins on the viewer's live map. This social dimension makes Wikitude a pocket guide which is enriched by the experience of your friends and community.
Ideal for travel: smart guide in your pocket
On trips, Wikitude shines as a complete digital guide: identifies paintings, monuments, buildings, maps, restaurants and shops, with the advantage of read real reviews to decide instantly. The app has been recognized as one of the best augmented reality browsers for several consecutive years, which supports his practical approach and maturity.
Panoramic view, close results and hotel or travel deals help you plan each route better. If you're interested in urban tourism or hiking, the overlay of names, distances, and information on the landscape makes it easier to find your way around and discover hidden gems.
Requirements, performance and availability
Wikitude is powered by the mobile camera, GPS and compass. To upload real-time data you need an Internet connection (for example, to use Live View, see how to activate Live View); if you travel abroad, avoid roaming costs by using free Wi-Fi networks from hotels, shops or restaurants whenever possible.
Is available in Google Play, App Store and also for Blackberry and Windows devices, with performance that takes advantage of the hardware power modern for stable and smooth tracking.
Create experiences with Wikitude Studio
In addition to the browser, the platform offers Wikitude Studio for anyone to design AR experiences without complications. The flow is simple: sign up, create an AR project, target image or object, upload images in supported formats (JPG/PNG), and use the editor to add images, texts and buttons with links.
At the end, you can preview by scanning a QR code or opening your content from the mobile app by logging in. The home technology includes tracking and recognition advanced and even markerless SLAM capabilities, ideal for anchoring content in space in a stable manner.
Wikitude Drive: Navigation with Augmented Reality
Wikitude has also explored AR navigation with Wikitude Drive: superimposes on the screen the directions to follow with 3D elements, and offers conventional mode with voice instructions to avoid distractions. With global mapping and support for driving or walking, it becomes an alternative visual and intuitive to move around the city.
The app comes with more new features, such as panoramic vision or offers from hotel or travel websites, but it's best to install and try it out. You'll see what it's like. augmented reality.
Download Wikitude World Browser from Google Play.
As a tool to discover your surroundings, travel better and create your own layers of information, Wikitude brings together geolocation, recognition and community in a single app: a practical and fun way to see beyond what the camera shows.
