The potential of Augmented
Reality (AR) for libraries:
Possibilities, challenges and impact
Learning objectives:
• To explore the main features of the Aurasma
app
• To identify different types of library materials
that can be integrated in the app
• To highlight the impact on the stakeholders of
your service
• To discuss the pros and cons in a school library
setting
What is Augmented Reality?
Simple definition of AUGMENTED REALITY
AR is the term used to describe an enhanced view of real life
by overlaying computer-generated content. This computergenerated ‘virtual content’ can be almost anything – video, 3D
models, dynamic web content – and it can be triggered by an
image, a location or a combination of the two.
Quick overview (video):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvEisDAsu8w
What content can be
activated/viewed
with the AR app?
How do you trigger the AR content?
Examples of Augmented Reality
Book Reviews:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Br0n-9rmJu0
3D Models:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCmk49ZsEVg
Sequence auras
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fa3N6I2vMjQ
&list=PLtEGYMIELtDtt8XjMKjGBYERdesO2hZL&index=17
Different stakeholders,
Different applications.
How can you target the following stakeholders?
Reluctant
readers
SEN / EAL
More Able
Parents
Recruitment
SMT/Governors
Teaching Staff
Local Community
Yourself
QUICK SWOT ANALYSIS: PROS VS CONS
Strengths:
- Tap into growing smartphone market
- More interactive relationship with the
customer (i.e. quizzes & competitions,
push best deal, contact you directly,
etc.). Increase service loyalty.
- Richer user experience
- Captivate the audience
- Research has shown that AR increases
the perceived value of products and
brands
- Branding: convey an image of
innovation and responsiveness.
- Maximise expertise
- Shareability
- AR is inexpensive
- Because AR is still so new, companies
are providing a lot of space for your
content
Opportunities:
- using geo-targeting AR to locate library
areas/sections
- 3D modelling for navigation or training
purposes (i.e. different parts and functions
of a specialised device)
- Virtual product demo (i.e. explain special
collections)
- augmented induction processes for new HE
students in a campus environment
- increase engagement in learning by
augmenting historical and cultural locations
and/or displays
- AR can act as a virtual instructor (i.e. study
skills, online resources, etc.)
- Activate and promote the content that you
generate (i.e. book trailers, audio and video
book recommendations, links to youtube)
- Archival potential
- Prepare the library for the technology of the
future (i.e. Google glasses)
QUICK SWOT ANALYSIS: PROS VS CONS
Weaknesses:
Threats:
- Expertise to produce AR content: 3D artists, - Would-be users must be educated about
audio-visual professionals, developers, etc.
AR’s capabilities: think staff, time and
- There is currently no interoperability
resources
between the different AR apps
- Services could be held back in their
- Change the nature or atmosphere of the
augmented reality deployments by
library space by becoming a “busy” space
employees unwilling to learn the new
(images, 3D models, etc.). All this competes
systems
for the customers’ attention
- Identify the right stakeholders: developing
- Customers must follow your channel in order
AR is time-consuming and must be
to access your content. Commercial accounts
carefully targeted at the right group to
to overcome this are available but more
start with
costly.
- Long-term application not guaranteed:
- Copyright: careful use of free images
the content is hosted on a platform that
licensing or generate your own
may disappear. Think archival agreement
- AR is based on good image recognition of
and access to content in worst-case
the phone/tablet camera: ideally it needs a
scenario.
good rear camera (2MP or higher)
- Minimum operating system for Android: 4.0 - Because AR is still so new, companies are
(Jellybean)
providing a lot of space for your content.
- Size limit fo content that you can upload
This may not stay the same when they are
(max. 100 MB)
more established.
Aurasma at a glance
• It’s free
• Available for both iPad and Android devices
system Minimum operating system for
Android: 4.0 (Jellybean)
• Compatible formats: mainly MP4, JPEG, PNG
• You can upload up to 100MG videos/images
• It needs a good rear camera (2MP or higher)
for image recognition