Prototyping Augmented Reality

Book description

Learn to create augmented reality apps using Processing open-source programming language

Augmented reality (AR) is used all over, and you may not even realize it. Smartphones overlay data onto live camera views to show homes for sale, restaurants, or historical sites. American football broadcasts use AR to show the invisible first-down line on the field to TV viewers. Nike and Budweiser, among others, have used AR in ads. Now, you can learn to create AR prototypes using 3D data, Processing open-source programming language, and other languages. This unique book is an easy-to-follow guide on how to do it.

  • Guides you through the emerging technology of Augmented Reality (AR)

  • Shows you how to use 3D data with the Processing programming environment and other languages to create AR prototypes for the web, smartphones, Macs, and PCs

  • Helps 3D artists and designers who want to move into the AR market but don't have programming skills

  • Covers the essentials of 3D programming, creating objects for an AR library, building and exporting 3D models, and much more

  • Explains how to interactively link 3D to physical, virtual, and streaming environments

Author Tony Mullen is both an artist and a programmer and perfectly suited to explain how to bridge these two worlds, as he so deftly does in Prototyping with Augmented Reality.

Table of contents

  1. Cover Page
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright
  4. Dear Reader,
  5. Dedication
  6. Acknowledgments
  7. About the Author
  8. About the Technical Editor
  9. CONTENTS AT A GLANCE
  10. Contents
  11. Introduction
    1. The Goals of This Book
    2. Who Should Buy This Book
    3. What's Inside?
    4. Online Companion Files
    5. How to Contact the Author
  12. CHAPTER 1: Getting Started with Augmented Reality
    1. What Is Augmented Reality?
    2. Tools and Technologies
    3. AR Necessities
  13. CHAPTER 2: Introduction to Processing
    1. The Processing Programming Environment
    2. Drawing in Processing
    3. Working with Classes
  14. CHAPTER 3: Blender Modeling and Texturing Basics
    1. Modeling with Blender
    2. Baking a Smooth AO Texture
    3. Creating a Finished Texture with GIMP
  15. CHAPTER 4: Creating a Low-Poly Animated Character
    1. Texturing Your Low-Poly Alien
    2. Rigging the Model
    3. Keying a Simple Walk Cycle
  16. CHAPTER 5: 3D Programming in Processing
    1. The P3D and OpenGL Environments
    2. Working with OBJ files
    3. Simple Animation with OBJ Arrays
  17. CHAPTER 6: Augmented Reality with Processing
    1. The NyAR4psg Library
    2. Digging into the Sample Code
    3. Controlling Transformations with Multiple Markers
  18. CHAPTER 7: Interacting with the Physical World
    1. Physical Computing with Arduino
    2. Sensors and Circuits
    3. Communicating Between Arduino and Processing
  19. CHAPTER 8: Browser-Based AR with ActionScript and FLARManager
    1. The FLARManager AR Toolset for ActionScript
    2. Getting FLARManager Up and Running
    3. Creating Your Own Projects
  20. CHAPTER 9: Prototyping AR with jMonkeyEngine
    1. Introducing jMonkeyEngine and ARMonkeyKit
    2. Exploring ARMonkeyKit
    3. Thoughts from the Developer
  21. CHAPTER 10: Setting Up NyARToolkit for Android
    1. Android and the Android SDK
    2. NyARToolkit for Android
    3. Going Further with Android
  22. Appendices
    1. APPENDIX A: From Blender 2.49 to Blender 2.58
      1. Basics and Views
      2. Mesh Modeling
      3. Texturing, Baking, and Materials
      4. Rigging and Animation
    2. APPENDIX B: File Formats and Exporting
      1. Development Environments and File Formats
      2. Exporting from Blender
  23. Index

Product information

  • Title: Prototyping Augmented Reality
  • Author(s):
  • Release date: October 2011
  • Publisher(s): Sybex
  • ISBN: 9781118036631