Zugara’s Newest Technology Enables Augmented Reality To Be A Social And Collaborative Experience
ZugSTAR Combines The Interactivity Of Augmented Reality With The Immediacy Of Live Video Conferencing
For all press inquiries, please contact: press(at)zugara(dot)com
February 4, 2010, Los Angeles – Today Zugara is introducing “ZugSTAR” (Zugara STreaming Augmented Reality), a technology that allows people in different locations to have shared Augmented Reality experiences from within their video feeds. Picture a web based video conferencing system similar to Skype*, but with the added functionality of being able to see one another’s “augmented” experience in real time. With ZugSTAR, Augmented Reality becomes a technology that facilitates collaboration, and physical distance becomes less of a barrier.
As a proof of concept, Zugara has already integrated this prototype within their Webcam Social Shopper to create a more engaging, and social, online retail experience. Whether its two lifelong friends attending different Universities, or a mother in NY who wants some quality time with her daughter in Dallas, online shopping can now be a more emotionally satisfying experience. And with the effectiveness of traditional forms of advertising in steep decline, what brand wouldn’t want to facilitate that type of branded experience for their consumers?
The video below demonstrates both the Webcam Social Shopper integration, and a few potential use cases that are currently in development:
“While integrating ZugSTAR into the Webcam Social Shopper is a natural extension of the tech, it’s certainly not the full extent of our vision.” said Matt Szymczyk, CEO, Zugara. “Gartner predicts that by 2015 200 million people will be paying for desktop video conferencing. Now, I don’t want to sound hyperbolic, but this tech has the potential to impact virtually every single industry. Anywhere distance is a barrier to real-time collaboration, ZugSTAR has the potential to provide a tremendous amount of value.”
To illustrate Matt’s point, here are a few potential use cases for ZugSTAR:
- EDUCATION (DISTANCE LEARNING): A science teacher can field questions and twist and turn a DNA helix as he/she explains their answers.
- MEDICINE: 3D models of an fMRI will allow a Dr. to either consult with other Dr.’s, or explain the test’s results directly to a patient.
- PUBLISHING: Augmented Reality Pop-Up Books can enable a parent that’s on the road to help their child to learn how to read.
- PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT: A 3D model (e.g. of a shoe or a building being developed) can be shared, and discussed, with colleagues, clients, vendors, and partners.
- CASUAL GAMING: Augmented Reality based casual games can now be multiplayer.
So, what do you think? What other industries can this technology impact? We’d love to get your thoughts in the comments below.
About Zugara’s Proprietary Augmented Reality Technologies
The Webcam Social Shopper
For more information on the Webcam Social Shopper, click here.
Cannonballz, A Casual Game Using ZugMO Motion Capture Technology
For more information on Cannonballz, click here.
About Zugara
Zugara, a member of the Augmented Reality Industry guiding “AR Consortium”, is an interactive marketing company focused on emerging media and technology. Zugara’s main areas of expertise include interactive video, social media, mobile marketing and website / application development. In addition to the strategic marketing based services we provide for our clients, Zugara also creates proprietary Augmented Reality technologies and products, including The Webcam Social Shopper, and a web based motion capture interface, ZugMO. Founded in 2001, and based in Los Angeles, Zugara is currently in the process of expanding and opening a second office in New York.
www.zugara.com
www.zugarastudios.com
Copyright 2010 ZugSTAR Technology
Copyright 2009 ZugMO Technology
Copyright 2009 Zugara Inc.
Patent Pending
*Skype is not affiliated in any way with ZugSTAR, and was just used to give readers a frame of reference.
Tags: augmented reality, cannonballz, casual gaming, collaboration, Education, Medicine, Publishing, Skype, Video Conferencing, webcam social shopper, Zugara, Zugara Streaming Augmented Reality, Zugara's Proprietary Augmented Reality Technologies, ZugMo, ZugSTAR
[...] company announced today that it is working on fast and easy shared webcam Augmented Reality and its first prototype is [...]
Very impressive… I’ve blogged about this on Reversed Reality http://reversedreality.wordpress.com/2010/02/05/zugara-zugstar/
Specifically as it relates to the Reverse Logistics industry.
[...] to a much broader marketing opportunity than just “social shopping”. According to the blog post from Zugara’s website:“While integrating ZugSTAR into the Webcam Social Shopper is a natural extension of the tech, [...]
Great article. There’s a lot of good information here, though I did want to let you know something – I am running Mac OS X with the latest beta of Firefox, and the look and feel of your blog is kind of flaky for me. I can read the articles, but the navigation doesn’t work so great.
[...] to a much broader marketing opportunity than just “social shopping”. According to the blog post from Zugara’s website: “While integrating ZugSTAR into the Webcam Social Shopper is a natural extension of the tech, [...]
hey guys 100ftzombie here just trying to clearing the air.
I didn’t mean to cause a stir but realise that it was rude of me to just comment without explaining my reasons.
I retract my comments about Vware but was mostly commenting on your proof of concept demos rather than the core motion capture tech. The video I saw did not link to this blog post which explained clearly that what was on show was “conceptual” I originally thought all of this was being shown as working now.
I saw and liked this when I saw it last year. Ive seen similar things done in concept stores but not via webcam and for everyone.
The use cases are interesting, although there is a big difference in the complexity of tracking motion to trigger a button to the more advance depth tracking and multi point tracking needed to rotate 3D objects.
Lastly I tried to check out the shopper on Tobi.com but could not find it?
Good luck with this and i’m keen to see more developments. Sorry for the stir and the facetious VW comment. The envy comes from wanting to develop our own internal R&D projects into real products not of the AR.
cheers
Ash
I tried to get the RSS Feed for your blog but it is not properly showing up in Google Chrome. Does anyone have any suggestions?
[...] ZugSTAR (die neuere Version von „Zugara’s Augmented Reality & Motion Capture“): [...]
That is incredibly cool, and I can see amazing uses for it! Do you know about Proclaim and the video web-conferencing platforms that Netbriefings has created? Check them out and if you think there’s a biz opp, let me know and I’ll connect you with their CEO. Seems that there may be synergistic potential with zugStar and the technology at netbriefings.
http://proclaim.netbriefings.com/flv/nb/px5h1/nbpx5h1100001/
This post really had me thinking about this particular issue in way I havent before. Its something I do believe we need to talk about more. Thankyou.
[...] company announced today that it is working on fast and easy shared webcam Augmented Reality and its first prototype is [...]
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