Capturing Reality Pt. 4

Jada Rodgers

March 11 · 3 min read

Continuing in our exploration of the Reality-Virtuality Continuum and showing the world of a BMPD student, this week’s focus is on Augmented Reality – also known as AR.

AR is an experience where virtual objects are overlaid on top of the real world. This creates an experience that merges the real world and virtual items, creating an immersive and interactive experience. Popular and well-known examples of AR include Pokémon GO and social media filters.

AR is a technology approaching the centre of the Reality-Virtuality Continuum. Although virtual objects are present, the scene remains in the real world, keeping it on the left side of the continuum. More interactive than the previously showcased traditional photography, videography and 360 content, AR begins to show the potential of the virtual side of the continuum.

In the BMPD program, students have opportunities to explore digital technologies, such as AR. The students featured in our story, Living in a Virtual World, have been developing an interactive tool to express what it means to be a BMPD student. With the repeated narrative that has been told throughout the past few posts, we can finally see what the students have been creating – an AR filter for Snapchat using Snap Lens Studio.

Snap Lens Studio is a free software that allows you to create custom AR overlays for the Snapchat. The software includes templates for the user to follow to create their own mini experiences, from a simple face or world overlay to a highly interactive element such as a game.

Want to create a Snapchat filter using Snap Lens Studio? Follow along with the tutorial below.

As seen above, the letters BMPD are overlaid on top of an existing environment.

You can try the filter yourself by scanning the provided barcode in SnapChat!

With the repeated narrative that has been told throughout the past few posts, we can finally see what the students have been working on and discussing. Instead of only being able to view the students, we can see the work that has been done by them. In the next posts, we will be able to interact and act as the students in the room, getting a better feel of what the covid classroom situation.

Jada Rodgers is a 4th-year undergraduate student in the Media Production and Design program, focusing on interactive media. Her interests include gaming, art, and media. She hopes to combine her interests and expertise with Interactive Media in the future. She has collaborated on numerous projects and studies throughout her undergraduate experience, including Augmented Reality-based learning and a Virtual Reality storytelling project about COVID-19.

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