Augmented Your Reality

Augmented Reality

Last week in class we learned about augmented reality and different apps that help make things come to life. Augmented Reality is technology that makes a computer-generated image on a person's view of the real world. For example, I colored a picture in class (on the left). With the use of augmented reality, the picture (on the right) comes to life! I also did another smackdown in class and I think it went so much better than my first one did. My smackdown was on Adobe Sketch. I really enjoy the smackdowns, I like learning about everybody's apps and I really like talking about the apps I use.

What is Augmented Reality?

Augmented Reality is the process of superimposing digital images into the real world, giving a sense of an illusion or virtual reality. Recent developments have made this technology accessible using a smartphone. Augmented Reality is a new upcoming technological process in the education world. I would use augmented reality in my classroom so students can learn to draw or paint things that they wouldn't be able to see in the classroom. If a student needs to draw an animal, they can use an app to make an animal appear right before their eyes. The animal can also move so this will help them understand it better and be able to create a masterpiece. Also with augmented reality, students can color in pictures and watch them come to life right in front of them. I would definitely use augmented reality all the time in my classroom, I think it's a fun and creative idea to bring into the class. If you don't, believe me, read this article.

Bring a Hippo into the 

Classroom with ZooKazam

ZooKazam is a free and terrific augmented reality app. You print out a target from the Zookazam website or use the back of a dollar, put it on a flat surface, and point your phone at it. You'll see a 3D animal moving in real time and with somebody explaining all the statistics of that animal. It's a really cool app with over 40 different animals including hippos, deer, and whales, plus insects, fish, reptiles, and dinosaurs. There are so many cool and fun ways to use this app in the classroom. This tool can be used for a bunch of different classes like art, science, and English class. The article talks about how you can write about bringing a Hippo into the classroom.

How to experience VR on your 

iPhone with Google Cardboard

Google Cardboard is a virtual reality and augmented reality goggles made by Google. The Google Cardboard is a fold-out cardboard viewer, which makes it very cheap so it will encourage others interest to development more VR and AR applications. Using an iPhone and an app, a split image will appear on screen, but when placed into the Google Cardboard the split image becomes one and it looks like you're in a whole new world. There are some cool apps that let you explore this new world and also some videos on youtube the can be watched through the Google Cardboard. This article goes into greater detail. 

Adobe Sketch on Twitter

Adobe Photoshop Sketch is a great asset for any graphic artist or student studying digital drawing/painting. As an art education major, I am always looking for new tools I can use in my education presently and for my students in the future. APS (Adobe Photoshop Sketch) is a great app for someone who loves to doodle in their spare time or a dedicated artist who transfers his/her artwork from APS to Illustrator or Photoshop and creates profound pieces of artwork. I plan to use APS to teach my graphics students how to create comic strips and import them into Adobe Illustrator to create a more "finished" look. I also plan to use this program to teach more advanced students how to create custom logos and digital paintings. I have attached a video which gives a brief introduction about Adobe Photoshop Sketch and how to begin using the app. This application makes it easy for someone to change the color of their paint, the texture of their brush, and size of their line. Having an application that easily links to bigger programs such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator makes creating art on location so much easier. I have a sketchpad wherever I go when I use this program.  I have the ability to save my art so I may work on it at a different time or place if need be. Overall, this application can be a fun activity for someone to just doodle and have fun, for a serious artist to use for his/her career, and absolutely every creative level in between.