Introduction to Augmented Reality Climbing
If you’ve at all times desired to be chased by a Pac-Man ghost while dangling off a rock face, you’ve come to the appropriate place. It’s called augmented reality climbing, and it’s part video game and part extreme sport. All you should participate is a laptop, a projector, and a web connection – or a Campus Recreation membership at Metropolitan State University of Denver.
How it Works
Massachusetts-based startup Randori pioneered the concept, and Campus Rec purchases an hourly subscription to activate the AR feature on the corporate’s website and project it onto a climbing wall. Games options include time trials for specific paths, hitting or avoiding specific spots on the wall, or staying in a projected box on the wall while avoiding 8-bit apparitions. According to David Lamothe, assistant director of recreation and leadership for Campus Recreation, “This is one in every of the more unique events we’ve done. It’s cool since it’s mixing technology with a historically outdoor sport. If you had Wi-Fi and a small projector, you would actually do that on a boulder outdoors.”
The Rise of Augmented Reality Recreation
Technology you possibly can take outdoors is accountable for each advances in and the recognition of AR recreation. Chris Jennings, professor of mobile and social media, credits the mobile app Pokemon Go with bringing existing AR technology mainstream. Launched in 2016, Pokemon Go allows users to locate and capture virtual creatures using their smartphone GPS and has reached greater than 800 million downloads. Jennings notes that “This all began with geocaching, really. The whole idea of augmented reality and getting people outdoors was geocaching. With Pokemon Go coming out a number of years ago, there have been numerous individuals who had no idea what AR was, and a complete latest group of individuals was introduced to this technology that otherwise wouldn’t have known about it.”
Educational Applications
In his work with Teaching with Primary Sources at MSU Denver, Jennings used similar location-based adventuring with an academic angle, giving students historical photos of places in Colorado and tasking them with tracking down the real-life location to take a brand new photo and compare the 2. This approach encourages students to interact with their surroundings and find out about history in a hands-on way. Jennings explains that “The idea was to get students outside using technology and get them to have a look at a primary source of an out of doors location. We can have students go downtown, walk the streets and have a look at old photos with trolley cars and compare the changes within the environment by doing things like that.”
Safety and Accessibility
Augmented reality may make outdoor recreation safer. RideOn is a maker of AR ski goggles that show real-time speed, temperature, and slope mapping in a heads-up display to warn skiers of upcoming dangers. Additionally, technology can add accessibility to recreation. Jennings points to Moosejaw’s virtual reality app and Mammut’s Project360 as examples of technology providing access to adventures to anyone. Mammut sent 4 Sherpas up Mount Everest wearing 360-degree cameras, giving individuals with physical disabilities an interactive opportunity to virtually climb to the best point on Earth.
Conclusion
The intersection of technology and outdoor recreation is creating latest and exciting opportunities for adventure-seekers. With the rise of augmented reality, people can experience latest levels of immersion and engagement of their outdoor activities. As Jennings notes, “I can’t stress how much I appreciate Pokemon Go. When I saw that, I believed, ‘Yes, we finally have something to attach numerous people to this technology.’ Now that technology is catching up, that is becoming loads more accessible and the tools are more user-friendly. I believe we’re going to see loads more of this.” As the sector continues to evolve, we will expect to see much more progressive applications of augmented reality in outdoor recreation.
