Collaborative, Location-based Augmented Reality Platforms for Your Classroom - ASTE 2013

This presentation took a look at what location-based augmented reality is, and how anyone with a little time could put together their own AR project using Wordpress and Layar or Wikitude for little to no monetary investment. Over the years we have seen augmented reality increasingly depicted in popular culture - books, movies, etc. This past year, many of the movie blockbusters featured AR (in addition to some very innovative interface designs). While we may have some years before we see technologies as developed as those, there are platforms right now that enable us to build our own AR applications and share them with others. Both the FeedGeorge plugin (http://christen.community.uaf.edu/2013/02/18/collaborative-ar-platform/) and the Maps Marker plugin (http://www.mapsmarker.com/docs/), used in conjunction with Wordpress, make it possible to host your points of interest (POIs) on your own server and create/edit them collaboratively. This opens up new augmented reality possibilities for projects by students, local interest groups, enthusiasts, and more. If you have never worked with Wordress, it is easy to get started. Many web hosts offer 1-click installations of WP right from their control panels. There are also free self-hosted options which also provide (sub)domains, if your budget is very small. I recommend checking out http://squirrel-host.com or http://biz.nf for free WP hosting options. They allow the ability to load your own plugins and themes.