Augmented reality - Part 1 - Introduction

Hello and welcome!
This week I'll try to throw some light on the topic of augmented reality. This is a very wide issue and my posts will be only a tip of an iceberg. I hope that I'll succeed in providing you some basic information and encourage you to investigate more on this by yourselves. Let's begin.

What is augmented reality?

The goal of augmented reality is to add information and meaning to a real object or place. Unlike virtual reality, augmented reality does not create a simulation of reality. Instead, it takes a real object or space as the foundation and incorporates technologies that add contextual data to deepen a person’s understanding of the subject.

How it works?

A range of technologies can be used for augmented reality. Many augmented reality projects use headgear or a similar device that projects data into the user’s field of vision, corresponding with a real object or space the user is observing. In the case of a technical course on PC maintenance, for example, augmented reality might overlay a schematic diagram onto the inside of a computer, allowing people to identify the various components and access technical specifications about them. PDAs or other portable devices can use GPS data to provide users with context— including visual, audio, or text-based data—about real objects or places. Augmented reality is not merely a companion text or multimedia file but a technology designed to “see” a real object or place and provide the user with appropriate information at the right time. Augmented reality is designed to blur the line between the reality the user is experiencing and the content provided by technology.

Hardware

The main hardware components for augmented reality are: display, tracking, input devices, and computer. Combination of powerful CPU, camera, accelerometers, GPS and solid state compass are often present in modern smartphones, which make them prospective platforms for augmented reality.

Display

There are three major display techniques for Augmented Reality:

• Head Mounted Displays - places images of both the physical world and registered virtual graphical objects over the user's view of the world
• Handheld Displays - Handheld Augment Reality employs a small computing device with a display that fits in a user's hand
• Spatial Displays - Instead of the user wearing or carrying the display such as with head mounted displays or handheld devices; Spatial Augmented Reality (SAR) makes use of digital projectors to display graphical information onto physical objects.

Tracking

Modern mobile augmented reality systems use one or more of the following tracking technologies: digital cameras and/or other optical sensors, accelerometers, GPS, gyroscopes, solid state compasses, RFID, wireless sensors. Each of these technologies have different levels of accuracy and precision.

Computer

Camera based systems require powerful CPU and considerable amount of RAM for processing camera images. Wearable computing systems employ a laptop in a backpack configuration. For stationary systems a traditional workstation with a powerful graphics card. Sound processing hardware could be included in augmented reality systems.

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That’s it for the beginning. In my next post I’ll write about software and applications of augmented reality.

Here are some videos to catch the idea:

Questions

No specific questions today :) Just write down your thoughts.

Sources

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augmented_reality
• http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7007.pdf

ADVERTISING - PART III

In the last part I decided to dive into the work that is done by the ad people. They need to consider many factors before they try to persuade we need a concrete product. They need to plan how to sell it to us in the most efficient manner. The process includes, thinking about the target customers, their needs, dreams, problems, their self-image etc. As they want to encode deeply in our minds one message: you are what you buy. That is what advertising is about. After careful analyses they find the way to communicate to us, that if we buy what they offer, we will enhance our self-perception and how other perceive us, too. How this communication works? It is mostly based on brand image, which according to Wikipedia is” typically the attributes one associates with a brand, how the brand owner wants the consumer to perceive the brand”. Then the product is also linked in its features and way it is being advertised to the values of the brand itself. It is so, that we buy the products that we identify ourselves with. So under the condition that certain brand’s values apply to ours and the ideal-me image( the way we would like to be), there is a large chance that it will become our shelf choice in a supermarket or any other shop. I must stress, however, that it of course takes place on an unconscious level. Therefore, I buy Apple I’m trendy, innovative and independent person. I eat Winiary I value tradition, family and trusty products. I drive Alfa Romeo I have fine taste for design, I’m sexy and like unpredictable adventure (and I can afford mending;)). Marlboro and the cowboy association is also a good example. Nike is about overcoming obstacles and being able to win with ones frailty. Diverse brands target their products to a more mainstream consumers, some are aimed at concrete groups of consumers. There are different means of sculpting such an image- it can be for example done with a simple usage of colours, which indisputably shape our mood and reception of certain phenomena- as Aristotle said “perception begin with the eye”!





If you were interested in branding have a look at some basic information at Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brand


So, as it was said every brand communicates some values and If they correspond to yours you are most likely to choose it without being aware of the impact. Now, have a look at people from advertising industry talking about their jobs and issues, I have in short presented above:












Q:
So, tell me, what are your impressions?
How much, do you guys think, you are influenced by ads?
Do you at all try to think over your choices or you simply don’t care?
What are your brand choices and what do you think they say about you?


Thanks for attention and I hope you liked it.

History and future of ion engines

The idea of ion propulsion was invented by and American rocket pioneer Dr. Robert H. Goddard, who explained the theory of this kind of propulsion in 1906. The first experiments with ion thrusters were carried out by Robert Goddard at Clark University from 1916–1917. First working engine for space use, was constructed by team led by Harold Kaufman, an American physicist who worked for NASA, in 1960. First space tests was run in 1964 in specially created probe called SERT-1 (Space Electric Rocket Test). It takes 31 minutes, as it was planned, and successfully ended.


First commercial uses of ion engines were started by Soviets. Since 1972 ion engines were used by them for satellite stabilization. Since then until late 1990s 118 ion thrusters completed their missions. But none of them was used as a main engine.

First satellite with ion thruster as a main engine was American Deep Space 1. It was launched from Cape Canaveral on October 24, 1998. During a highly successful primary mission, it tested 12 advanced, high-risk technologies in space. In an extremely successful extended mission, it encountered Comet Borrelly and returned the best images and other science data ever from a comet.

Deep Space 1 proved that ion technology is stable, fast and economic. After success of the Deep Space 1 mission European Space Agency decided to use this kind of thruster in their satellites. So far it was used by them in 3 missions (Artemis, GOCE and Lisa Pathfinder missions). Also Japanese space agency decided to use ion thruster in their Hayabusa satellite which successfully rendezvoused with the asteroid 25143 Itokawa.


The new ion technology can be also used in Mars exploration. Using traditional rockets, which burn chemical fuel to produce thrust, it will take about six months to reach the Red Planet. To reduce this time in 2005 NASA developed new kind of ion engine called called VASIMR (Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket). VASIMR can change 6 months journey to 90 days. Scientists thinks that after improvement, it can be reduced even to 39 days. In 2012 NASA is planning first space tests of VASIMR from International Space Station. Maybe it will be a key element for our future Mars exploration.

ADVERTISING - PART II

In this part I would like to discuss basic tricks that has long been studied by psychologists and proved to be successful tools in encouraging people to buy. As we buy, but not always the things we need, but rather those that we want. And we want them because something or someone persuaded us that they are inevitable for our wellbeing and good self-perception.
Let’s begin with Reciprocity. Have you ever felt obliged to return a favour or be nice to someone mutually? Advertisers know that people are prone to reciprocate kindness. That is why we are offered free samples/ trial versions of goods or shop clerks will assist us for considerable time, till you feel “you have to buy something”. It works for some of us more , for some less, but it does.
Principle of Scarcity is another to name. Have you ever encountered offers limited in time? Sales, end of collections, last items, “offer valid till the depletion of stock” or “till 30th of May”. Although they might not have seriously considered such a purchase before, customers feel they need to hurry, because the shop might run out of the product. If it is scarce, then it is good, valuable and everyone wants to have it, it seems to be communicating.
Using an image of some in Authority is also a good strategy. People seems to believe that people who hold some authority , are knowledgeable or famous are good sources of information and recommendation. Especially those wearing uniforms (doctors, policeman, dentists or elegant suits like brokers) are more prone to influence us than ordinary people. What’s more, Paris Hilton will sell much more shampoo than Mrs Kowalski, no matter how pretty and convincing she is -placing a celebrity in an ad will bring considerable increase in gains.
Consensus is about making people believe that everyone else does it- and yes, we want to behave like majority, as it affirms our choices. “It's the new sensation crossing the country” or” It’s a bestseller” are common for this method. We are all familiar with Media Markt ads “Nie dla idiotów”. So, all the clever people buy in Media Markt! Hmm, let me think, I’m not and idiot.. I should buy where the clever people do... Of course that is a simplified example, but it works more or less like this.
Commitment is getting people “invest” a little (commit) and then they are more likely to make another step ,which is consistent to the previous. For example, often sales people ask “ Do you Madam/Sir consider yourself a frugal person”, you say yes, “then you will surely be interested in our offer”. Or you agree to fill in a survey and that already makes your first step toward buying agiven product without even being aware. If we invest our time to go through a long printed ad, we will feel more committed to buy.
Additionally, we can talk about Greed. That is why we often subscribe to chain ad programmes that are send via emails, because we think there is a way to go through a shortcut, pay less or even win.
Last, but not least is simply Liking. We Prefer to buy what we like (that is obvious), and we like what is familiar! That is why we are under constant repetition of same songs in the radio or the same ads with catchy slogans. And aswe become familiar, we start to like something and then purchase it. I’m sure some of you heard a song for the first time and hated it, but after a repetitory listening thought it was quite catchy. We also prefer to to buy from people we know(therefore like)- again well known celebrities’ images will serve their purpose.
Have a look at Dr Cialdini observations from his research:






Q:
Can you uncover this methods in the ads you know?
Does it seem familiar?

ADVERTISING - PART I

Advertising is all around us. Hardly could one imagine his/her life without being bombarded with numerous ads trying to persuade us to purchase different articles that we usually don’t need. Many methods of advertising goods and services exist and contemporary market seeks the best ones to pocket best profits. According to marketing definitions, advertising is a paid promotion of goods, services, companies and ideas. It could be concluded that such a promotional strategy is aimed to make us familiar with options, attributes of products. Nonetheless, we are all quite aware of the fact that numerous tricks, psychological means are used manipulate us into buying this instead of that. Still, as I found out in many conversations, people believe they are not susceptible, claiming such tricks do affect other people, but not them. I bet most of you would say with confidence, that they are more or less in control of what is their purchase choice. However, you might be mistaken, or let’s say a little overconfident. Advertising industry exercises different methods and I encourage you to become familiar with them and therefore more in control of your choices. I will present you with some common tricks: so called “supermarket psychology” , then discuss some psychological basics and at last investigate “ you are what you buy” tactic.

Packaging is obviously an advertising tool to differentiate one product from another, but did you know that it may convey much more. Usage of shapes, colours, fonts or images may communicate to you that this products represents some certain values. They are displayed so you can attribute it to yourself. Utilizing green will immediately make a product more healthy and the brand more environmental friendly. If you care, you are probably more prone to buy such a brand instead of a more mainstream looking one- and you do it without much thought! Images of half-naked women advertise goods from beauty products to food, cars, vacation and beer. But nudity sells everything, so why not? Were you aware that when a merchandiser wants to communicate a drop in prices he will do it different way depending on the price of the good? With cheaper things, let’s take a chocolate bar, the reduction in the price will be announced in percentage ( Snickers, now 20% cheaper!). It makes a bigger impact than saying that it is 25 grosz cheaper. With cars instead they always communicate the reduction in exact amount of money( Out now, discount for previous year Hondas is 5,400 Pln). Sounds better that 3% discount, doesn’t it. And I don’t intend to say that customers can’t count but such a trick is enough to catch your attention and consider a purchase. Such methods are countless, for different sectors distinguish. Here have a look at two clips discussing consumer behavior psychology:








Q:
Do you guys, spend much time thinking over your purchases or you are spontaneous customers?

How does it vary for different sorts of goods?

Ion engine

Ion engine is new kind of spacecraft propulsion which opens new opportunities of space exploration. It's brand new, innovative and incredibly technically advanced way of providing spaceship movement. It can be a key element in human race to reach the Mars.



First ion engine was built by Glenn Research Center in 1960, but because of inadequate technology, it couldn't be used in space programs until now. It is based on ion propulsion technology which involves ionizing a gas to propel a spaceship. The method, how ion engine works is quite complex. At the beginning atoms of xenon gas, used as fuel, using electricity are deprived to get ionized. Then using electromagnetic field ions, made from atoms before, are accelerated high speed and shot out of the engine. This enormous speed of ions gives a thrust. The xenon ions travel at about 35 km/s. This is about 10 times faster than the exhaust from chemical rocket engines, so the ion propulsion gives about 10 times as much of a push to the spaceship as chemical propellants do. That means that it takes only one tenth as much fuel for an ion engine to work as it does for a chemical propulsion system so it's really economic. Another advantage is a fact that ion propulsion system is compact in comparison to conventional chemical engine system.



Ion engine is not of value for spacecrafts that require high acceleration, and it often will not be worthwhile for space missions that can be done quickly using conventional propulsion systems, such as missions to the moon or space stations, but for missions with high energy requirements such as mission to Mars, the low but steady acceleration of ion propulsion wins out over the less efficient bursts from chemical alternatives.

The Past and The Future of Explorers PART III

At the beginning of mankind, people may have looked up at the sky, stars and moon and thought nothing of what lay above them. For most of our history, we believed that we were at the centre of the Universe. That belief was based mainly on our religious ideas – people thought themselves to be not just at the centre of everything, but they believed to be the centre of everything themselves. They believed that everything in existence was provided for their benefit. The acquirement of the knowledge that Earth is just a small part of something much, much larger and has allowed us to mature beyond that misunderstanding. People began to wonder about what was there, and soon about how to get there. Looking back, countless hours were spent to get us where we are now.

In the 18^th Century people started coming up with ideas for space travel and for basic aviation. Some of the ideas back in those days consisted of a hot-air balloon, a parachute or movable wings. It is quite obvious to us living in the present that those designs never would have worked. In the early 20^th Century people were still spending a unspeakably huge amounts of time and money to create a simple aircraft, not even knowing its potentials. The Wright brothers achieved that in 1903. In 1926, Robert H. Goddard launched the world's first liquid-propelled rocket. The rocket, which was dubbed "Nell", rose just 41 feet during a 2.5-second flight that ended in a cabbage field, but it was an important demonstration that liquid rockets were possible. That one achievement would eventually lead to the development of space travel.

Direct space exploration began over a quarter of century later in October of 1957. It was then that the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the world's first artificial satellite. It was also the Soviet Union that launched the first man into space. This man was Yuri Gagarin. History was made on April 12, 1961, when he successfully orbited the earth at the speed of about 17,000 mph in the Votsok 1. The mission lasted 108 minutes, and it was considered an enormous breakthrough in space travel. Unfortunately, after this mission, Gagarin was killed in a test airplane crash.

Right after the Soviet Union's spectacular space travel success, the United States decided to join the ''space race'', but they decided to take it a step further. Project Apollo began in October 1968 with the launch of Apollo 11, headed by Neil Armstrong, who became the first human being to set foot on the moon on July 20, 1969. Other astronauts that accompanied Armstrong on this mission were Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr., and Michael Collins. In later missions, the Apollo project landed a total of 6 people on the moon.

Other space missions of great significance were for example: the first in history travel into space of a woman, Valentina Vladimora Nikolayeva Tereshkova, in 1963; Sputnik 1, which was the first artificial satellite to orbit the earth (later destroyed by aerodynamic frictional heat upon it's return to Earth's atmosphere); and the launch of Voyager 1 and Voyager 2, which were sent out to Jupiter in August and September 1977.

Future plans of scientists include using antimatter as a form of fuel. The only problem with antimatter is that it doesn't naturally exist, therefor it has to be made in labs. It is also very unstable, only being able to stay intact for several billionths of a second. Antimatter has a large chance of becoming the ultimate super fuel since only 100 milligrams of it could easily power a space shuttle through its whole mission.

In the years to come, people will continue to launch new satellites and explore the great unknown. There is undoubtedly still a lot more to for us to discover in space.