Augmented Reality: A Practical Guide (Paperback)

by Stephen Cawood (Author), Mark Fiala (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Augmented Reality is a natural way to explore 3D objects and data, as it brings virtual objects into the real world where we live, rather than forcing us to learn how to navigate inside the computer. With video-see-through technology, AR handheld devices such as tablet PC ™s, PDA ™s, or camera cell phones, (or in many cases just a webcam and our standard computer monitor), you hold the device up and see through the display to view both the real world and the superimposed virtual object. You can move around and see the virtual object, model, animation, or game from different views as the AR system performs alignment of the real and virtual cameras automatically.

This book will introduce you to Augmented Reality (AR), provide detailed explanations of how the technology works, and provide samples for you to try on your own. Code samples using the freely downloadable ARTag software SDK in C++ and C# are included; all you need is a computer, printer, and a webcam.

Create something new today!

About the Author
Stephen Cawood is a Canadian writer. He has received three patent awards for his work on web-based content management, and had the good fortune to speak at various technical conferences including Microsoft TechED in New Zealand, Australia, and Stephen's home country: South Africa. Stephen is the author of The Unauthorized Halo 2 Battle Guide: Advanced Combat Techniques (Thompson Course Technology), The Black Art of Halo Mods (Sams), and Halo 2 Hacks (O'Reilly and Associates).

Dr. Mark Fiala is a computer vision researcher who has worked both in the academic world in computer vision and in industry doing electrical engineering. Mark grew up as a robotics hobbyist and pursued computer vision to make "eyes for robots." However, he later discovered other uses for computer vision. Mark studied electrical and computer vision in Canada and took part in several startup companies in varied areas of telecom and panoramic imaging before working for four years in the Computational Video Group of Canada's National Research Council. At the NRC, he applied computer vision to other areas including Augmented Reality.

Product Details

• Paperback: 328 pages
• Publisher: Pragmatic Bookshelf; illustrated edition edition (January 18, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1934356034
• ISBN-13: 978-1934356036
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #64,978 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Augmenting Reality , March 2, 2009

By	Joseph A. Nickence (Gladstone, MI) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I've developed an interest in augmented reality in the last couple of years, based on what I've been finding in YouTube videos. So recently I've been considering doing some coding myself. "A Practical Guide" is a straight forward approach to this expanding field. While it isn't a type of AR for Dummies book, it does take you thru the basics. This is a book good for getting the feel of what AR is all about.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars VERY VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!, February 23, 2008

By	John R. Vacca "Tech Write Independent Reviewer" (Pomeroy, Ohio) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Are you a software hobbyist? If you are, then this book is for you. Authors Stephen Cawood and Mark Fiala, have done an outstanding job of writing a book that provides all of the information that you will need to quickly start developing your own Augmented Reality (AR) applications.

Cawood and Fiala, begin by showing you how to get started by running AR on your system. Then, the authors explain how OpenGL is used to create computer graphics for AR. Next, they show you how to create OpenGL applications. The authors also show you how to develop AR applications. They continue by showing you how to integrate ARTag into your OpenGL programming to create your own AR applications. Then, the authors show you how to use typical video game design flow to create 3D models in a specialized 3D program and then import them into the AR program you're writing. Next, they show you how to create a 3D AR video game. Finally, the authors also help you build upon the game you started to build earlier in the book.

This most excellent book provides detailed explanations of AR technology--even the math is explained. But, more importantly, the book will show you how to create your own AR applications, using nothing more than a PC and a USB 2.0 webcam.