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Virtual Cinematography: Was The Matrix under-rated and Avatar over-rated?

24 February 2010, 1:44 am
Virtual Cinematography Reloaded

Virtual Cinematography Reloaded

There’s no denying it, Avatar the movie has caused a revolution not only in film making, but has affected other spheres of life as well, almost to the point of it becoming an inspiration and a way of life for some. The strong emotional bond that it created with audiences can also be attributed in a way to the immersion that only Stereoscopic 3D movies can, as in people’s opinion the story line was not something so unique, so it could be the 3D effect that created the bond.

There was a similar phenomenon that happened a few years ago with another movie that reached cult status and inspired a whole legion of followers to the very futurist ideas and thinking it provoked in those who understood the deep meaning that the movie presented.  - The Matrix. In fact the storyline behind the Matrix was complex and thought provoking enough to actually warrant more than a few repeat viewings, and unlike Avatar, for which repeat viewings are for the exquisite CGI eye-candy presented in stereoscopic 3D, The Matrix was a 2D movie and the reasons for going back to watch it was almost always because people went back home and had that question in their heads “what is the Matrix”.

The reason to compare the two movies in this article however is not for philosophical reasons, but because they had one thing in common, though it may not be very obvious at first glance in the latter movie – Virtual Cinematography.

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Where is the Augmented Reality button on Google Maps and Google Earth?

11 February 2010, 10:23 pm
Ancient Rome augmented over the real world in Google Maps mobile

Ancient Rome augmented over the real world in Google Maps mobile?

While working on a project in Augmented Reality inspired by the History Channel’s “know where you stand” TV commercials, we couldn’t help but wonder why Google has not yet released a Google Maps for mobile with an AR (augmented reality) button. On the current Google Maps, there are buttons that are labelled “Map – Satellite – Terrain” that show different views of the Maps, as the user chooses. For instance, the Satellite view button when clicked displays the map as a birds eye photo-realistic photograph of the location, taken from an imagining satellite high above in space.

We propose an AR mode for Google maps…or Google E-AR-TH.

What is Google E-AR-TH?

This is not an existing offering from Google, but a project and title suggested by us, to name such an offering.  How could Google E-AR-TH be implemented and what would it comprise?

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Will History disappear, if we can “see” the past via Augmented Reality?

10 February 2010, 1:16 am
Augmented Reality, let's us relive History

Augmented Reality, let's us relive History

The Future of History:  An oxymoron in Schools soon?

History was, and still is a fascinating subject in school. How many of us remember daydreaming (in a good way) about being the famous person we were reading about in a History textbook? Or, imagining what is must have been like during a particular era, in a distant land or in our own country during the rule of some ancient emperor.

However, today one of the biggest concerns and challenges that teachers and educators seem to face, is that gadgets and technology is having a very distracting effect on students and children in school. There are hints that some teachers may actually ban the use of devices such as smart phones etc, during school hours, and many schools already enforce such rules. The downside of this is plain to see – Rules are meant to be broken, and sooner or later, agile and the technologically superior minds of the younger generation will no doubt find a work around to smuggle in or use these so-called “taboo” devices.

What if we could harness Technology, to educate and stimulate the younger generation to value and cherish tradition but in a non text book manner, and thus impart education to them with help from the same devices that they seem hooked onto. In effect, hijack these devices in an interesting way, so as to break into a students “Digital Personal Space” which they are not so keen to give up that easily. – This is the key to the future of eduction and the thought behind a project that Real Vision is working on – Taking History outdoors and bringing History to the present.

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Should education be powered by Technology or Humanism?

7 February 2010, 10:38 pm
The Classroom teacher of tomorrow is "Technology"

The Classroom teacher of tomorrow is "Technology"

The “Google it” Phenomenon and it’s impact on Education:

How many times today did you just “google it” or allow Google to suggest with it’s artificial intelligence (AI) – “Did you mean”. In the past, copying off pieces of notepaper or using a calculator at exams was considered cheating. Can any one really justify that line of thinking today? If our human brain has been “augmented” by the Internet or the “cloud”, and knowledge and info on any subject on this planet can be accessed with ease, is it still wrong to “copy”?

Much has been said on the downsides of  rote learning, yet if a child knows and has understood the context of a question or a problem, is he / she permitted to access the answer with the help of a smart phone or laptop, via the internet during an exam? Why or Why not?

These are important questions we will be asking ourselves within the next few years. Yes it does sound rather scary that we may promote rusting of brains if this practice is allowed and goes unchecked. As sci-fi as it sounds, we are actually creating artificial brains that are now performing our thought intensive chores like calculations, or at the very least, storing our knowledge.

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iPad, E-book readers, Net books and Augmented Reality education in2015

5 February 2010, 2:28 pm
The right choice of Ebooks in Education?

The right choice of Ebooks in Education?

(Picture above: Screen grab from Singapore’s in2015 video – (c) IDA Singapore)

Ebook Readers in Class rooms and Education:

The recent release of Apples iPad has sparked off a huge debate on it’s potential in many areas. There is a distinct polarization of views in two camps, the ones who say the device is over-hyped, and the ones who follow Apple as a religion, and believe it to be the prophet of technology, that will part the sea of confusion and lead the way forward. Amongst the many uses of the new iPad device, is a sudden surge of enthusiasm with educators and businesses that provide technology in education.

The iPad is being positioned or propositioned as the start of a revolution that will replace traditional textbooks. The subject of replacing paper with technology is of course close to the heart of almost everyone, especially environmentalists. I would tend to agree too, that trees are better seen than felt in a compressed form. However, just as Avatar the movie made stereoscopic 3D a household name, the iPad seems to be making e-book readers a household name. Not that 3D movies or e-book readers did not exist prior to these “brands”. It’s the right mix of money, marketing and evangelism that covers the last mile to adoption.

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Singapore’s ‘in2015′ vision driven by Technology in Education.

1 February 2010, 9:16 pm

The short video clip above is an extract from a video by Singapore’s IDA on the country’s Intelligent Nation 2015 or,  in2015 project. The much longer video envisions the entire country being transformed by forward thinking ideas and people living in a multi-cultural society and driven by a single motivation: To excel, and to focus on the future in all spheres of life, while leaving behind petty issues that plague other countries in their quest for progress.

Such ambitious initiatives are no doubt, bound to draw criticism from different segments of society, who may feel that they have valid reasons for criticism. However the point of this article is to bring awareness to “World Citizens” who do not look at geography and lines on maps as defining the world of the future. World citizens are already emerging and these are the people who interact on Digital Networks today and use Social Media to communicate with people in a world without borders. Initiatives such as Singapore’s in2015 project will be looked at with keen interest by such people and the newer generation of school and university graduates, who will be propelled and driven by a quest for greater pursuits in life.

Technology assisted Education = Forward Thinking People.

How does a tiny country with not much natural resources, emerge as one of the most recognized model countries in the developing and the Developed world? The key is in the determination of it’s society, a vision and then the motivation or drive, to implement that vision on a daily basis. Most countries have a vision, but it gets diluted at the implementation stage for a variety of reasons and then sees it floundering and slowly trailing off.

Instilling ambition and visionary like qualities in citizens, starts at an early stage, during education. Making technology and tools accessible to the younger generation, is a key enabler for them to explore and gain more knowledge, so that by the time they are graduating the quest for knowledge and a higher purpose in life, take precedence over corruption, delinquency and general malaise.

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Create “meaning” with Augmented Reality cellphone apps.

31 January 2010, 11:27 pm

Augmented Reality Apps should add value:

This will probably be one of the shortest articles on the blog, because the video above is worth the viewing time of 9 minutes. I am a big follower of Guy Kawasaki and his approach to business and ethics in general. This is why, whenever there is something that has the possibility of making meaning, or adding value to life, and if it can be done with the creative use of technology, the message is worth spreading.

Advertising and Marketing Agencies have gone to town with the latest “toy” in their ever increasing battle to “engage” consumers. This time its Augmented Reality. Mention about the way AR is currently being used, to university researchers in this field (the ones who have a passion for AR and it’s possibilities) and you will see them wince and cringe at how it’s being abused in it’s current form of aim-the-camera and watch the 3D object dance apps.

While there is nothing intrinsically wrong with how AR is being used right now, it is about time Creative and Digital Agencies use it in a manner and context that can add value via this technology. Some people had envisioned greater things for AR other than just pointless amusement, such as helping professionals in the medical field, Heritage and architecture, civil and public security and if ever for amusement then in places such as museums and classrooms – Edu-tainment.

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4 ways Pepsi could have used Social Media advertising at the SuperBowl

31 January 2010, 1:37 am
SuperBowl miniature screens for Social media advertising

SuperBowl miniature screens for Social media advertising

Social Media Temptation:

The Super Bowl according to accepted belief, is the second largest food consumption day in the USA after Thanksgiving day. So when a major advertiser decides to not splash out on advertising during this acknowledged “National Holiday”, it would set the entire advertising and media spheres abuzz! This is exactly what has happened on every major discussion forum, even on large online business social networks such as LinkediN.

The discussion, is about the Super Bowl advertising stalwart, Pepsi, this year deciding to direct it’s advertising effort to Social Media instead of focusing on advertising centered around Super Bowl Sunday. This is a huge and monumental decision that has been taken, and all eyes are on Pepsi, to see if their gamble will pay off. After all in today’s world of Social networking and instant communications, word spreads like wild-fire in a matter of hours! Thus the very media platform of choice that Pepsi is choosing for advertising, Social Networks, could be it’s undoing if anything goes wrong. One only has to look at the ill fated (and questionably named device from Apple) the iPad, and how it is being ripped apart on blogging and social media networks, just a day after it’s launch.

The full potential of dynamic digital media platforms such as social networks, are only now being digested by main stream advertisers and marketers. The same temptation and seduction that it offers… of end consumer’s evangelizing a product, is also the very platform that can be the un-doing of an ill conceived product or ad campaign!

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