I mentioned using the monitor but since the monitor is vertical holding the iPad over the target was cumbersome. So I just tried displaying the target on the iPhone and placing the phone face up on the desk. I then aimed the iPad's camera at the phone and "poof", just like magic I had a 3D rover sitting on my desk. Fun watching the rover turn about and extend and retract various components all on my desk. Regarding the need for the target I found an explanation in the App's comments section. It read: "The people who say it would be better if you didn't have to use the target and could just have a free floating model are missing the point of AR. What they're talking about is 3D modeling. The point of AR is to place something virtual into your real environment. The program takes your reality and changes (augments) it. This way it looks like the model is stilling on your desk." patrick On 23 Jul 2012, at 02:44, Patrick Wiggins wrote:
Here's an app I just came across that puts the next Mars lander on your desktop using augmented reality (I just used it to put the rover next to my cat which is sleeping on the side of the desk.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/spacecraft-3d/id541089908?mt=8
Once you get the hang of it it does work but it does not come with much in the way of instructions. This YouTube video helped: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HAUkm3Lkjo
Also, where it talks about printing out a target I found it works pretty well just displaying the target on my monitor.
I'm going to have a target professionally printed on card stock later today and see how that works.
BTW, I'm not really sure why the target is necessary. But it is.
patrick