Augmented Reality Playboy

Now if only Playboy hopped on the Augmented Reality bandwagon . . . aahh . . . the possibilities.

The December’s edition of Esquire magazine is a special “Augmented Reality” edition. A colleague bought it only because of the specialty and he wasted no time in getting me to check it out. It allows the reader to use custom-designed software and a webcam to access 3D animated and video content and to interact with the pages being viewed. Of course, my initial response was simply wishing I was holding a Playboy magazine with the augmented reality instead.

The augmented reality features are the 3D cover with Robert Downey Jr presenting weather-changing fashion portfolio, a pretty lady presenting time-sensitive funny jokes, a photo slideshow and a Lexus ad. To experience the augmented reality, you need to download the software for Esquire’s website. When the software is activated, it translates a black and white marker on the printed page into a video sequence enhanced by 3D animation on the PC screen. Tilting and turning the page produces different scenarios on the screen.

My immediate feeling about this is that I felt like a toddler with a new fancy toy. Esquire’s market must be toddlers. No doubt Esquire’s design team did some really great work here, but I don’t think it’s a good representation of a promising technology. Video content such as these can be and are already being delivered without having to download a software and waving a magazine in front of your PC’s webcam.

If you're curious and have RM26.00 to spare for the magazine, check out the video here and download the software here.