Augmented+reality+and+Early+Childhood+Education

Augmented reality is a technique which uses 3D models to enhance learning. It is being used today at all levels of education, from PBS applications designed for mobile phone use by kindergarten students through college courses and training products for corporations. [|PBS featured a video on augmented reality children's games]. This one allows the child to help hatch a dinosaur egg. while playing a colorful and engaging game, the child is introduced at an early age to the concept of immersive reality and alternate reality teaching methods. this can foster an early comfort level with learning in multiple locations and at the learner's chosen time. the featured application is free. However, data cost might be implemented to continually run this application by a child who becomes obsessed with it

[|PBS Press release] also featured a promotion for their newest game Fetch! Lunch Rush. Fetch is a game targeted to six to eight year old children which is intended to foster and improve on math skills.

Another application for Augmented reality is demonstrated by this video of a Sesame Street play set prototype. In this instance, the child uses playing pieces to interact with the virtual aspects of this game. The application is by a company called Qualcomm on a platform called Vuforia. media type="youtube" key="f8IcogneJ_M" height="315" width="560" align="center"

The platform began as an augmented reality API for Android devices, and since October also supports iOS development. Vuforia lets app developers use video captured by the device camera and overlay 3-dimensional characters and images. Users can interact with the 3D objects and engage and manipulate within the physical surroundings.

The technology works by recognizing specified visual cues in the video, such as patterns, colors or shapes. The augmented 3D layer then references these cues to give the illusion of being part of the space. Hardware and CPU intensive, the technology is starting to take shape as more devices incorporate HD cameras and mobile processor speeds improve. ([|Source])

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