EZFace is powered by IBM technology. Simply put, EZFace allows customers to see what makeup looks like, without having to try it on for themselves.

It begins when a customer has their picture taken in a virtual mirror, which looks like nothing more than an ordinary webcam. The customer can then scan the barcode of the specific make-up product such as foundation, mascara, and eye shadow. The program takes into account the user’s eye color, skin tone, and lighting to make an image of what the product might look when put on the face.

No more having product samplers in front of a mirror. Granted, that is probably the best way to see if make-up really works, and I don’t know what kind of margin for error this program has. After all, the program might make the cosmetics look better than they actually do. The proof, as they say, is in the pudding.

Still, it is a step in the right direction for digital makeovers. EZFace is currently working on expanding this idea for hair. So now you can see what the style is going to look like before it is on your head for the next month or so.

Source

Related Posts:

• Japanese customers' augmented reality mirror to see what makeup looks like without trying it on
• Gadget Thumbnails for 02-Sep-2010
• Augmented Reality Pop-Up Books
• Nooka's ad campaign uses augmented reality
• Vuzix releases Augmented Reality Video Eyewear at GDC 2009

Remember a while ago, when it was on Coke Zero cans? Users could put their soda in front of the camera and see one of those tricked-out helicopter ships from Avatar. I believe that there was even Avatar toy action figures that could do the same thing with this technology.

I have included a video of Adidas technology in action. You will find it interesting that the augmented reality is actually on the shoe itself, not on the box.

No, the augmented reality code is right on the tongue of shoes themselves. Placing them in front of a webcam and running special software turns the shoe into something akin to a miniature virtual neighborhood.

From what I can tell, it looks like users can click on the virtual image and access some interesting online things. I looks like that virtual augmented world has the Death Star as a moon.

The Originals Augmented Reality Adidas come in styles of Superstar, Stan Smith, Forum, Nizza, and Samba models. The prices range from $65 to $95, and I believe that the time of release will be in the summertime.

Source

Related Posts:

• Gadget Thumbnails for 12-May-2010
• Augmented Reality is now in vending machines
• Augmented Reality Pop-Up Books
• Esquire's December 2009 issue has Augmented Reality
• McGill University in Montreal creates haptic floor

What makes this problem even greater is those who see such crimes often do very little to stop them. I can understand why people would want to avoid being hurt, but some people who pass by such scenes don’t even bother to call for help.

There is a new public service message that involves a billboard and augmented reality technology. I’ve discussed augmented reality before, and this is the first time I have seen it used like this. Check out a video after the jump to see it in action.

What happens is that the billboard shows some studio-made footage of an assault on some paramedics, but the augmented reality adds people passing by and doing nothing. These people who are passing by are shot by hidden cameras and placed in the footage in real-time.

Talk about an object lesson! Man, if this doesn’t show people that they should get involved, I don’t know what will. I wouldn’t mind seeing this billboard outside of the Netherlands. Something like this could prevent any more Kitty Genovese cases. For those of you who aren’t aware of Kitty Genovese, she was a woman who was stabbed to death near her New York home. This incident was witnessed by thirty-eight people, and not one of them called the police.

In the video, it shows four steps of what to do if you see something in the augmented billboard. It would probably be best if we all did them. Whoa, that got preachy. Then again, it’s hard not to be preachy when talking about issues like this.

Related Posts:

• Gadget Thumbnails for 30-Apr-2010
• Augmented Reality is now in vending machines
• Augmented Reality Pop-Up Books
• Esquire's December 2009 issue has Augmented Reality
• Nooka's ad campaign uses augmented reality

In order to play this game, the 200 players had to have an iPhone and an App available at the Japanese App Store. The goal of the game was to find the secret hints in order to find the real-world hideout of the secret society of the Moonlights.

Man, does that sound mysterious. I’ve got a video of this after the jump, but I must admit that it is really quick, and it should have been in more detail. However, it’s enough so you can see how it works. The players hold up their iPhones, and they can see how far away the clues are. Then, once they got close to the clue, only a phone can reveal the code that will get you to the next clue.

I don’t know if there was any big cash prize to the winner of this thing, but I’m told that 7,000 people watched this online. I suppose that one of these augmented reality scavenger hunts could appear on a reality show, but don’t they already do that on The Amazing Race?

Source

This conceptual ad campaign from Nooka also uses augmented reality, and it shows how a watch will look like without actually wearing it.

As you can see by the video, Nooka wants to put this weird paper band in major magazines. This band is removable, and it is full of QR codes. The user puts on the band, and he or she can then go into front of a webcam and the Nooka site.

From there, far out augmented reality takes over as the user figures out what watch goes well with them. In other words, it’s augmented reality accessorizing!

I don’t really see the effect being at all realistic. I mean, it looks like the Nooka is super-imposed on the wrist like an old-school special effect. However, does it have to look that realistic?

No, this is just a way to see how something looks, which means that it doesn’t have to look all that good.

Unfortunately, my Source does not have any word on when this new ad campaign is starting, or if it is starting. However, videos like these just don’t make themselves, which means that it had to be made for a reason.

Source