Computer Graphics and Multimedia Software - Knowledge Sharing

Friday, October 24, 2014

Malaysia UTM 2-Days Professional Course | Developing Mobile Augmented Reality Apps 2014

Hello Malaysia,

Grab this opportunity to learn and develop augmented reality application. This short-course will teach you the fundamental principle of Augmented Reality and the mobile AR apps development techniques.

Ever wondered what an interactive mobile application would look like when viewed through its camera,  virtual object will immersively overlay onto our real world? It looks cool and very impressive. How you would like to make sense of what you encounter? This is a new dimension to mobile experiences where    augmented reality technology will flourish the most. 

We bring to you an expert in Augmented Reality (AR) to guide you in developing your own mobile AR apps. The expert and most knowledgeable professor. 

Date : 29 NOVEMBER - 30 NOVEMBER 2014
Time : 10.00 AM - 05.00 PM
Venue : UTMSPACE KUALA LUMPUR

Contact :
comp.utm.my/mivielab

Booking Now!
Next training : December 2016 | February 2017 | April 2016
* subject to change, please whatapps to confirm





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Monday, February 4, 2013

Exporting Android AR app with Vuforia and Unity3D

Unity Pro or Unity Android required?

Even the extension compatible for both. This is a Unity Pro only Features. It does not work with the Unity Basic version. Sure unfortunately, the limitation from Unity which only allows native plugins in the Pro version of the editor. However there are a few ways to acquire it. But it might require technical aspects.

Unity3D and Vuforia – Tutorial Exporting Android AR App

In this tutorial using Unity3D and Vuforia we show how to export augmented reality app

Unity3D is also available to download from here
Download # Download and Import Unity3D Extension v4.2.3  (*.unitypackage file)
Unity3D extension is also available to download from here
Stand-Alone Android SDK is also available to download based on your OS from here
Download # Money Images for Tracking (Euros)  (*.rar file)
Download # All Money Models with Textures  (*.rar file)


NOTE :

The Vuforia™ SDK allows you to build vision-based augmented reality applications. It is available for Android, iOS and as an Extension to Unity - a cross-platform game engine.

A Vuforia SDK-based AR application uses the display of the mobile device as a "magic lens" or looking glass into an augmented world where the real and virtual worlds appear to coexist. The application renders the live camera preview image on the display to represent a view of the physical world. Virtual 3D objects are then superimposed on the live camera preview and they appear to be tightly coupled in the real world.

For more information see www.vuforia.com.

An application developed for Vuforia will give your users a more compelling experience:
  • Faster local detection of targets
  • Cloud recognition of up to 1 million targets simultaneously
  • User-defined target for run-time target generation
  • Robust tracking – augmentations stick to the target and are not easily lost as the device moves
  • Simultaneous tracking of up to five targets
  • Better results in real world conditions – low light, partially covered target
  • Optimizations that ensure better and more realistic graphics rendered on the target
The diagram below gives you an overview of the application development process with the Vuforia platform. The platform consists of the Vuforia Engine (inside the SDK), the Target Management System hosted on the developer portal (Target Manager), and optionally the Cloud Target Database.

How do you run the Android Extension?
You’ll be able to use Play Mode for Vuforia, in Unity by following these steps:
  1. Install the Vuforia AR Extension for Unity release 2.0 into your project.  It will be available from the Unity Asset Store and from the Vuforia developer portal, as usual.
  2. Build your AR app.
  3. When you’re ready to test, click the play button in the editor and hold your target in front of the webcam.  Your scene will run in the game view as if you were running the app on a mobile device.
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Thursday, September 8, 2011

Augmented Reality for Computer games Unity3D and Vuforia

Unity3D and Vuforia

Vuforia is an Augmented Reality Software Development Kit (SDK) for mobile devices that enables the creation of Augmented Reality applications. It uses Computer Vision technology to recognize and track planar images (Image Targets) and simple 3D objects, such as boxes, in real-time

Augmented Reality tutorial using Unity3D and Vuforia

This is one of the simplest Augmented Reality tutorial using Unity3D and Vuforia. Camera is pointed to the image target, which is recognized, tracked and virtual character added on top of it.

Download # Unity3D (download and install it) (*.exe file)
Unity3D is also available to download from here
Download # Download and Import Unity3D Extension (*.unitypackage file)
Unity3D extension is also available to download from here
Download # Download and Import EdgarasArt tracker in Unity3D  (*.unitypackage file)
You can create your own tracker here
Download # Print this image to augment the content  (*.jpg file)


Just wanna share some knowledge after I deliver a talk a few months ago. It was about Augmented Reality (AR) for Computer games. A brief about game art and concept and detail out the state of the ARt.


Qualcomm - the winners of its 2010 Augmented Reality Developer Challenge at Mobile World Congress. Qualcomm SDK - for the web, iPhone, iPad, PC, Mac, Wii, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, as well as Android. Qualcomm's AR SDK for Android and iOS smartphones and tablets is now available for download. This SDK will enable a new generation of AR applications that enable interactive 3D experiences to take place on everyday objects.

Current trends for games:

• Apple iPad2 is the second generation iPad for Apple with iOS 4.3 (upgradeable to iOS 4.3.1) platform. Nitro JavaScript engine / No Adobe Flash.
• The good features of Galaxy Tab is the voice and video calling and video conferencing facility, communicate through speakerphone or your Bluetooth headset. Support to Adobe Flash Flayer - platform Android 2.2
• Motorola Xoom the first device to run on Google’s next generation mobile operating system Android OS 3.0 Honeycomb, which is entirely designed for tablets
• Acer Aspire Iconia Tab A501 uses Android 3.0 with a redesigned UI. Honeycomb is more futuristic - resembles with Motorola Xoom in internal specification
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Wednesday, May 4, 2011

ARTag : SDK demonstrating AR

Demo AR Programs using ARTag

There are four main programs demonstrating AR (augmented reality) using ARTag; , <3d_augmentations>, and . The first two have two versions, one with “_usb.exe” for most cameras such as USB webcams, and the second “_dragonfly.exe” is for the Point Grey Dragonfly camera from Point Grey Research (www.ptgrey.com) often used in university labs that gives better performance and was used by myself in ARTag development.

1. The program uses the “base0” image and just draws a few graphics primitives and a textured logo image relative to the marker array, its purpose is to be a simple example for people programming with the SDK.

2. The <3d_augmentations> demo is more interesting, it was used to create the images at the first page of this document. This program uses the “base0” array, and the individual toolbars. To save space in the download, and for permission reasons, only 5 models are provided in the demo and SDK download; fish, Chihuahua, car, frog, and can of asparagus model.

If you run this application, aim the camera at the base0 and toolbar arrays and you should see 3D virtual objects rendered relative to them.

Fiala (2004) has developed new system called ARTag was inspired by ARToolkit. ARTag was taking advantage of the increased computing processing power available. ARTag uses more complex image processing and digital symbol processing to achieve a higher reliability and immunity to lighting





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Camera Resolution : Setting Resolution Problems

Camera Resolution: Bigger = Better Performance, Setting Resolution Problems

The larger the input camera image is, the smaller the markers can be and still be detected, and the less the JPEG artefacts will disturb the detection. Unfortunately the OpenCV cvcam interface that was used in these demos is not able to properly set the camera resolution, it usually defaults to a lower resolution such as 160x120 or 320x240.

The camera resolution should not be confused with the resolution of the graphics window, the demo program window can be 640x480 when the camera resolution is only 160x120. The picture of the background will just appear grainer and more pixelated. The system will work better if the camera can be set to a higher resolution.

Some users have found that if they run another program where you can set the camera resolution first, then it will run with a higher resolution when you run the ARTag demos. For some, the programs downloaded from http://www.shrinkwrapvb.com/ezvidcap.htm seem to do the trick on some computers.




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Monday, March 21, 2011

Google SketchUp : 3D modeling for architecture

Google SketchUp

...is a 3D modeling program that can be used to make models that integrate with Google Earth. Like Google Earth, SketchUp is a software download.

...currently upgraded SketchUp 6 Pro to SketchUp 8. The pro version comes with additional export options and support.

Do not expect Google SketchUp to compete with professional products like Autodesk Maya. SketchUp is nowhere near this level of sophistication. However, SketchUp does not require years of constant use to master.

Creating a model for Google Earth is easy. With both Google Earth and SketchUp open, the view from Google Earth can be imported into SketchUp with the touch of a button. Once modeling is complete, press the place model button, and the model moves into your copy of Google Earth.




Models created in CAD software can be imported to SketchUp and SketchUp models can be ported to CAD software. In theory, there can be a two way street. In this article, we will show that while CAD models can be moved into SketchUp and worked on, it is not feasible to go in the opposite direction.


SketchUp feels like an architectural modeling program. SketchUp even offers a variety of "sketchy" textures for models, and SketchUp Pro has a rendering option to make 2D renders look like they're architect's sketches.

Google SketchUp is a great tool for beginners or anyone looking for a simple way to make simple 3D objects. It's ideal for students in areas like interior design, where 3D models would enhance their presentations.


Downloaded material :

Tutorial Introduction to SketchUP

Exporting SketchUp models to CAD software
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Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Using ARToolkit to develop Augmented Reality

There are two parts to developing Augmented Reality applications that use ARToolKit; writing the application, and training image-processing routines on the real world markers that will be used in the application.

Developing the application

In writing an ARToolKit application the following steps must be taken:

1. Initialize the video path and read in the marker pattern files and camera parameters.
2. Grab a video input frame.
3. Detect the markers and recognized patterns in the video input frame.
4. Calculate the camera transformation relative to the detected patterns.
5. Draw the virtual objects on the detected patterns.
6. Close the video path down.

Steps 2 through 5 are repeated continuously until the application quits, while steps 1 and 6 are just performed on initialization and shutdown of the application respectively. In addition to these steps the application may need to respond to mouse, keyboard or other application specific events.

To show in detail how to develop an application we will step through the source code for the simpleTest program. This is found in the directory examples/simple/ The file we will be looking at is simpleTest.c. This program simply consists of a main routine and several graphics drawing routines. The main routine is shown below:


int main (int argc, char **argv)
{

glutInit (&argc, argv);
init();
arVideoCapStart();
argMainLoop (NULL, keyEvent, mainLoop);
return (0);

}

This routine calls an init initialization routine that contains code for initialization of the video path, reading in the marker and camera parameters and setup of the graphics window. This corresponds to step 1 above.

Next, the function arVideoCapStart() starts video image capture.
Finally, the argMainLoop function is called which starts the main program loop and associates the function keyEvent with any keyboard events and mainLoop with the main graphics rendering loop. The definition of argMainLoop is contained in the file gsub.c that can be found in the directory lib/Src/Gl/

In simpleTest.c the functions which correspond to the six application steps above. The functions corresponding to steps 2 through 5 are called within the mainLoop function.

Recognizing different patterns

The simpleTest program uses template matching to recognize the different patterns inside the marker squares. Squares in the video input stream are matched against pre-trained patterns.

These patterns are loaded at run time and are contained in the Data directory of the bin directory. In this directory, the text file object_data specifies which marker objects are to be recognized and the patterns associated with each object. The object_data file begins with the number of objects to be specified and then a text data structure for each object. Each of
the markers in the object_data file are specified by the following structure:

Name
Pattern Recognition File Name
Width of tracking marker

For example the structure corresponding to the marker with the virtual cube is:

#pattern 1
cone
Data/hiroPatt
80.0

Note that lines beginning with a # character are comment lines and are ignored by the file reader. In order to change the patterns that are recognized the sampPatt1 filename must be replaced with a different template file name.

These template files are simply a set of sample images of the desired pattern. The program to create these template files is called mk_patt and is contained in the bindirectory. The source code for mk_patt is in the mk_patt.c file in the util directory.


ARToolkit tutorial for beginersDownload latest version ARToolkit 2.7.2.1
Rujuk Documentation provided in HitLab website for more information/additional note.
Must know how to configure and setting up ARToolkit – set directories “Option properties” visual studio pada linker, include dll, path.

Download Tutorial 1 (.pdf)

Download Tutorial 2 (.pdf)



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Malaysia Augmented Reality

Its incredibly difficult to discover the undiscovered. Here will see how I can help you. Cheers - Ajune (comp.utm.my/ajune)
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