What is Augmented Reality?
Augmented reality (AR) is a live direct or indirect view of a physical, real-world environment whose elements are augmented (or supplemented) by computer-generated sensory input such as sound, video, graphics or GPS data. It is related to a more general concept called mediated reality, in which a view of reality is modified (possibly even diminished rather than augmented) by a computer.
AR Today
The most common definition of AR to date is a digital overlay on top of the real world, consisting of computer graphics, text, video, and audio, which is interactive in real time. This is experienced through a smartphone, tablet, computer, or AR eyewear equipped with software and a camera.
ARToolKit(Open Source)
ARToolKit is an open-source computer tracking library for creation of strong augmented reality applications that overlay virtual imagery on the real world.
- major platform support enables a wide range of applications Compiled SDKs for iOS, Android, Linux, Windows and Mac OS X all ready to download and use.
- Includes OpenGL ES2.x support, integration with GPS and compass, and automatic camera calibration utilities.
- ARToolKit includes stereo and optical see-through support, is integrated with a range of smart glasses, and allows easy calibration for new devices.
Unity 3D Engine
Unity is a cross-platform game engine developed by Unity Technologies and used to develop video games for PC, consoles, mobile devices and websites.
Guidelines for developing AR apps in ARToolkit with Unity,
Step 1:
From below link you can able to download ARToolKit Installation file and Tools for unity3d,
http://artoolkit.org/download-artoolkit-sdk
Step 2:
After Installing ARToolKit, Create own marker for tracking(NFT) via command prompt
- Select image which you need to track and then go to command prompt--> choose a path C:\Program Files (x86)\ARToolKit5\bin in your system.(Note:Its for latest version of ARToolKit). copy this text and paste like (cd C:\Program Files (x86)\ARToolKit5\bin)
2. Now, type genTexData.exe and give space and add your marker image path. For example, I am giving some image to generate NFT marker.
3. We need to provide extraction level for tracking features. It is default = 2, I given 4. And then,
Need to provide extraction level for initializing features to 3. And enter the DPI resolution for specified image.(Given 300);
4. After given DPI resolution for image, the set files will be generate accordingly.
5. After creating set files add those files into unity editor --> StreamingAssets
6. Check Display Feature Set for specified image in cmd dispFeatureSet.exe. It is using to find out the feature points on image.
Step 3:
- In unity3d editor, Import ARToolKit Package and then create new scene File-->New Scene--> save scene name to SampleScene.
- Remove MainCamera and Add Empty gameobject, rename it to ARToolKit and Add script (ARController and ARMarker).
- Find video configuration field and Add -device=WinMF this media foundation using for tracking marker at runtime.
- Find ARMarker script(same gameobject) and change Type to NFT. And NFT dataset name should be mention in what you had in streamingassets. The name should be same as in StreamingAssets.