Screenshot of the Layar browser in use at the University of Exeter
Augmented reality helps Exeter students find their way
The University of Exeter is giving new students a high-tech helping hand around campus by providing the ultimate in personalised tours – an ‘augmented reality layer’ for smartphones. Believed to be the first of its kind for a UK University, the newly launched tool allows people to find a whole range of information about their local environment by using the camera on their smartphone.
It uses GPS technology and clever programming to overlay virtual information on the real world — telling people everything from what they’re looking at to where the nearest bus stop is.
Rich Osborne, one of the developers on the project, said: “All you have to do is view what’s in front of you using your smartphone camera and the augmented reality layer will show you all the points of interest — whether that’s a café or bar, lecture theatre or the nearest PC cluster.
“You can click on any of those to get directions from where you are. Some of the points have special links to help you further — for example, you can find out if the nearest open access PC room has a free PC available, or listen to a podcast about the sculptures you can see around campus.”
With thousands of new students arriving on campus, the augmented reality layer has been launched to give a helping hand to those finding their feet but is also expected to be useful for old hands.
Filters on the service enable users to look for lecture theatres, PC clusters, recycling facilities, car parks, cafes, bars, cycle parking, bus stops, and shops. It works on the University’s Streatham and St Luke’s campuses in Devon and the Tremough campus in Cornwall.
The augmented reality layer can be accessed by any visitors to campus using the ‘Layar’ app, which can be downloaded for free via the University’s website, which also has a series of YouTube tutorials on how to use the system. It’s available for iPhone and Android smartphones.
Sue Milward, head of the University’s Web Innovation Project, said: “This technology is a great way of helping people get the most out of the great facilities here at Exeter, giving directions to and information on hundreds of points of interest.
“Hopefully it will prove very useful and something we can add to in the future. We’re proud to be at the forefront of this technology to offer a new experience for students, staff and visitors.”
You can download the app or find out more at http://www.exeter.ac.uk/students/life/layar/
Date: 29 September 2010
