Mobile Intelligence Unit - AR Research

The possibilities of Augmented Reality ("AR") on mobile devices are only just becoming apparent. SequencePoint Software has a promising demo app, "ARound", for the Nokia N97.

"Enkin" introduces a new handheld navigation concept. It displays location-based content in a unique way that bridges the gap between reality and classic map-like representations. It combines GPS, orientation sensors, 3D graphics, live video, several web services, and a novel user interface into an intuitive and light navigation system for mobile devices.

Original Website - Mostly Japanese

By far, the biggest crowd pleaser at last week's TechCrunch50 was a demo by the Japanese startup Tonchidot for a mobile social tagging product it is developing called Sekai Camera.

"Enkin" introduces a new handheld navigation concept. It displays location-based content in a unique way that bridges the gap between reality and classic map-like representations. It combines GPS, orientation sensors, 3D graphics, live video, several web services, and a novel user interface into an intuitive and light navigation system for mobile devices.

The browser uses awesome 3D navigation which you can see as you spin around. There is local data from property companies and big name brands which is represented in an augmented reality view. Holding it flat jumps to a Google maps view and when you spin around so does the browser to make sure you know where everything is in orientated.

Wherever you are, the nru mobile application ("near you") will work out your exact location and which way you're facing. It will then show you the nearest places to go, from bars and restaurants to cinemas and cafes. As you turn to face different directions, the view will change so you always know which way to go. nru gets it's content from Qype, the local search and recommendation website, and fonefood, the mobile restaurant booking service from lastminute.com.

Layar is a new augmented reality Android framework that comes from SPRXMobile. SPRXMobile, which previously brought us the ATM finder and this excellent post about the AR hype cycle, have kicked it up a notch with a full blown AR platform. SPRXMobile don't provide many details quite yet (they save it to Mobile 2.0), but here's what was made public on their site:

Gamaray's AR Explorer shows virtual 3d objects not seen with the naked eye. Obviously, the technology is in its infancy, and it's quite a bold move on Gamaray's part to release its application in such an early stage: