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This article from the Economist gives a background on augmented reality, and explores future prospects: 2D bar codes, the evolution of Google Latitude, the future compass enabled Iphone.

I like the way the Nokia researcher describes "virtual reality" dividing into "augmented reality" (real world with layers of additional information) and "augmented virtuality" (virtual game worlds being made more information-rich). Helpful distinction.

"Virtual reality never really died, he says-it just divided itself in two, with AR enhancing the real world by overlaying information from the virtual realm, and VR becoming what he calls "augmented virtuality", in which real information is overlaid onto virtual worlds, such as players' names in video games... its potential is huge."

Discusses the use of virtual worlds for business collaboration

Not sure what the virtual world adds to this

What happens to your teen avatar when the plug is pulled on your virtual world?

That looks like a tragedy that's rooted in bad software architecture - having the Teen software be so different from the main Second Life software that it now has to be shut down ... tsk tsk. I hope Linden Labs has learned from this. It was really interesting to learn how this has been used in education (with specifics about hurdles the teachers had to jump to get it into the curriculum).

This is a good example of how a product is trying to make you feel more immersed by placing virtual objects in the real world instead of a completely virtual world.

This could possibly put the 'fun' back in 'functional' - if students are operating within the "real world" on sincere applications, they may generalize their skills better. I'm all for perceiving my world in 50% cartoon ;o)

"Anything that brings language alive, whether that's in the real world or the virtual world, is a good thing."

Meez, a start-up that expanded last year from an avatar creation service into a full-out virtual world for teens, is touting some good news: it's been profitable since April and "every month is better than the last month," CEO John Cahill told CNET News.

Newest Disney attraction called - Sum of All Thrills where kids get to design their own virtual roller coaster. It uses virtual-reality technology. "Disney hopes the interactive nature of the ride would also help kids learn that math and science can be fun."

While I would not consider this incredibly expensive ride a 'distruptive innovation' or even an emerging ed technology, what Epcot has done by bringing this DIY-VR concept to the masses (if you are one of the masses that can A- afford Disney and B-have the patience to wait in line for `5-6 hours) is very important to future ed tech innovation strategies. The progression/invention of such cost prohibitive entertainment tools will fall squarely on the high-end theme parks and consumer venues. The challenge has been set by Epcot and now others must either compete directly or develop a better or more accessible solution. Off the top of my head, I can think of a few cost saving innovations that might be developed in this 'race'- Artificial G-Force Engline: variable air pressure, smart-chairs, fans

Background on Augmented Reality. Reading for 9/14.

Using second life to facilitate business meetings is an indicator of how virtual collaboration is becoming more prevalent in the business world.

Skoolaborate is a global initiative uses a blend of technologies including, blogs, online learning, wiki's and 'virtual worlds' to transform learning. We aim to use these tools to provide engaging collaborative learning experiences for students aged between 13 and 18 years of age.

To impress kids with a world of wonders.

Here is a website with a virtual world game for kids. You travel around a world called miamiopia in the form of a balloon avatar. You come across questions from content domains and I think then you answer questions and earn coins. If you can't answer the questions, as happened to me when trying to earn coins by answering questions identifying dinosaurs, you are taken to a web site with the information so you can learn it.

Hard to resist such a title ! Lives at war is a online virtual reality game designed to teach world war 2 history to British pupils. The use of archival videos in the game within the context of objects is a creative blend of videos and VW for education. Another interesting example of a VW that exemplifies situated learning.

PBS Kids has developed its first augmented reality mobile phone app that overlays graphics onto real world environments. The game aims to teach math skills.

Augmented reality (AR), which involves superimposing virtual objects and information on top of the real world, may be coming to a phone near you.

The distraction of technology, especially mobile phone and computer, has always been a concern to us. When I was in middle school, few students owned cellphones or laptops. So we have no chance to be immersed in the virtual world. But apparently we couldn't enjoy the benefits of the latest technology either at that time. If I were able to choose, I would definitely choose the colorful school life which is enriched by the various technologies.

"The world is ripe for another revolution - this time in education. Technology has advanced so much over the last two decades that we can virtually change the way we educate." - Vivek Wadwa, senior research associate at Harvard Law School and director of research at Duke University's Center for Entrepreneurship.

An interesting product for reading and comprehension. Tim McEwen, chairman, chief executive officer, and president of Archipelago Learning. "Once children learn how to read, it's important to keep them engaged in and enlightened by reading. This product offers teachers a way to do this by leveraging a channel that already appeals to them - social networks and virtual worlds. If we can relate the core principles we're hoping students will learn to the areas that already interest them, then we create a mutually beneficial and relatable teaching environment."

3D classroom created for learning would be helpful where cost cutting measures are required without compromising on the quality of instruction, it would also help in giving confidence to students who are shy to interact in real life to collaborate in the virtual world, speak their minds and raise questions without fear or hesitancy