My first experience with Augmented Reality [AR] was the book iDinosaur, which my son issued from the library. (If you haven’t seen it, click here to watch a demo). I thought this blog post would be limited to the growing number of AR books that are available, and while I will talk about those books, there are numerous other applications for AR that could have an impact on libraries in the future.
AR is defined by the Oxford dictionary as ‘a technology that superimposes a computer-generated image on a user’s view of the real world, thus providing a composite view.’ There are an increasing amount of books being published with this technology. However, to access the AR in these books you are going to need either a smartphone, tablet or a computer with a camera in it. In order to make these books accessible to everyone it makes sense for our library to be ready to support these technologies for people who do not have access to them at home.
AR has even been involved in summer reading programmes. Check out this YouTube video for the Mythical Maze reading programme.
This could be a great way to get more children involved in our summer reading programme, especially those who are more interested in playing computer games. Again, it would be appropriate to have devices available at the library so all children who want to can participate in the reading challenge.
Many libraries and museums are starting to apply AR to their historical photograph collections. We could apply this to our photographic collection. For example, the patron could be standing on Main Street, open up the app, and the image is superimposed with an historical photograph showing what Main Street was like x number of years ago. This Daily Mail article shows the Streetmuseum app that does this for areas of London. Providing applications like this will open up our collection to patrons who previously would not have made the effort to browse our historical photographs. For a more local example check out this Heart of Nelson app.
The National Library of New Zealand has applied AR to some of its latest displays. They have digitised some of the content on display, such as a soldiers diary. With a quick scan of your device you have the full diary at your fingertips to read. This digital version is augmented with additional information such as photographs of the soldiers mentioned in the diary, and background information of the war. This makes the experience far more involved than just a quick skim of a page through a glass case. They have even created a conversation with the man in the photograph below who discusses his situation in the war.
This blog from the National Library goes into much more detail of how AR is enhancing their current displays.
For a more practical application of AR there are apps like ShelvAR which provide quick inventory of shelves, or Aurasma which enable people to create their own AR. Apps such as Aurasma would have potential to enable our library further promote our collections with things such as having posters at the end of each section which can be scanned by a reader device. The device could then show all the latest or most popular titles that are available in that section.
The applications for AR are increasing, and as a library we should be prepared to offer support and devices for those who will be unable to access AR on their own.
Information Management Technologies 