Augmented Storytelling

Hi, this is Ed. Arturo and I briefly spoke about augmented reality (AR) in the class on Tuesday. As this course centers on interactive storytelling, and on the back of conversations in the academy about copyright, I join others in wondering, "what is the future of the book?" The mix of realities possible through these technologies is limitless, and perhaps it offers one way to rescue the book? at least for a while?

Can you imagine the possibilities? A book where the character comes to life in 3D? These animations could link to a variety of databases providing access to information and even an artificial intelligence. As the reader moves through the story, parts of it could remain the domain of the 3D content and change in reaction to the reader. For instance, background environments might subtly change (e.g., sunny to partly cloudy), clothing and building colors might change from time to time, and so forth. These minor changes might contribute to a radically different experience each time, and discovering how they could reconfigure the experiential aspects of a book and story will be ripe for research and collaboration.

The company responsible for this video is one of many out there currently testing the limits of this new media form. If you'd like a bit more information about AR in general, have a look at my post about Handheld Augmented Reality and Heritage or My AR Business Card.