One of my first experiences with augmented reality came from the Aurasma app, later known as HP Reveal. The mobile application layered 3D objects and videos on top of a high contrast image. My mind was blown after I viewed a 3D object jump off an image on the paper. I can’t recall anything else I learned that day, but it was the beginning of this beautiful ARVRinEDU journey. I immediately shared the app with educators in my district for all grade levels and content areas. After inspiring classrooms around the country, the application came to an end at the beginning of the year.
The creation of augmented reality has evolved in time. Most of the AR experiences in the past ten years involved using a trigger image to superimpose an object or video on top. The trigger image is similar to a barcode telling the mobile device precisely what to add to the image. Often seen through a mobile device, the illusion is tethered to the image, so the camera must keep it in view at all times. The image must have enough color contrast to be easily identified, keeping in mind that glare and lighting play a significant role in identifying the trigger image.
A newer augmented reality technology eliminates the trigger image and places objects in your space by surface tracking. In the past four years, this technology is included on most mobile devices and uses ARKit for the Apple platform and ARCore for Android. The ARKit and ARCore technology can adjust the object to fit in the space, change in brightness, layer around people, identify face and hands, plus so much more. The technology is incredible, but it must run on relatively new devices. At this point, more and more classrooms are equipped to run ARKit and ARCore applications, but the use of trigger images is still prevalent for classroom lessons.
I often receive requests for alternative augmented reality applications to replace HP Reveal, and thankfully, we now have plenty of options. When researching augmented reality creation resources that use trigger images, I’ve searched for specific criteria to best support classroom implementation. Some of the areas and issues to evaluate are cost, platform, ease of use, and features.
Below are a few options that will support your lessons in creating augmented reality. Depending on the classroom resources and preferred outcome, some options may be more beneficial than others. I have yet to find an option that offers everything for little or no cost, but it’s possible to use various tools for different projects to get what you need.
ARize (ARize.io) Platform
I’ve been impressed with ARize because of the simple interface. The possibility to link a website from the augmented reality experiences is unique. Most AR creation tools require the video content to be loaded on YouTube, but ARize allows the video to be uploaded to the website. Explore my experience by scanning this image below in the ARize app.
Steps
Go to arize.io and select “Get Started Now” to set up an account
Select “Create AR” and then “Tap to Start”
Select the type of AR experience you want to add on top of your trigger image
Upload or add the link to the content on the trigger image and upload the trigger image (JPEG ONLY)
Select “Public” with the free version of ARize and “Create Post”
Cost: Free for up to 10 experiences
Creation Platform: Web-based
Ease of Use: Easy
Features: Use your videos, 3D object files, Sketchfab and Google Poly integration, links, or Unity projects
Arloopa (studio.arloopa.com)
The Arloopa studio is a simple yet effective and fairly customizable augmented reality experience tool. One of my favorite features in the Arloopa Studio is the option to move the 3D objects exactly where you want it placed in the AR experience. The user can add multiple objects in one AR experience. The option to create AR content using a trigger image, using surface tracking or location services makes the tool more flexible for classrooms. View the image below using the Arloopa app.
Steps
Go to studio.arloopa.com and select “Create an Account” to start your account
Select “Create New Experience”
Pick the type of experience you want to apply, either using a trigger image, placing the experience in the room, or placing at a specific location
Select the type of AR experience you want to add on top of your trigger image
Paste the link or upload the image/video/object to layer on top and upload the trigger image
After customizing the experience, select “Publish”
Cost: Free for up to 10 experiences
Creation Platform: Web-based
Ease of Use: Easy
Features: Use your videos or link from YouTube, upload 3D object files or link from Sketchfab and Google Poly, add links to a website, Unity projects
Assemblr (assemblrworld.com/studio)
The Assemblr Studio is an application to download on your computer. The 3D library is notable with animated objects and many educational items to include in your class. I found the platform simple to use but allows more personalizations than many of the other tools. The free options are acceptable for many classrooms, and the cost to upload a customized trigger image (also called marker) is affordable. View my AR experience using the Assemblr app by scanning the QR code below.
Steps
Go to assemblrworld.com/studio and download the software to your computer
Select “Create New Project” and give your project a name
Add the 3D objects, pictures, or videos you want to include in your experience
Place and modify the items on the marker area to customize the experience
Select “Publish” and download the marker to view your experience
Cost: Free with the QR code
Creation Platform: Download application on a computer
Ease of Use: Easy with added optional
Features: Use your images or videos, a large and animated 3D object library, 3D objects can be uploaded with a subscription (otherwise 8 MB is the file limit)
EyeJack Creator (creator.eyejackapp.com)
The EyeJack app is one of the easiest platforms to use because it’s essentially limited to adding a short video on top of a trigger image. The application must be installed on your computer. An audio upload is available to include a voice-over or ambient sound. View my postcard below after scanning the QR code in the EyeJack app.
Steps
Download the EyeJack app on your computer
Upload a trigger image (JPG or PNG file)
Upload a video, GIF, or PNG to layer on top of the trigger image in the augmented reality experience
Keep the QR provided to view in the app
Download the EyeJack app on your mobile device (iOS & Android)
Open the app and select the eye at the bottom of the screen. Scan the QR code (found in step 4) and then view the trigger image
Cost: Free
Creation Platform: Download application on a computer
Ease of Use: Easy
Features: Use your videos and audio files
WebAR (mywebar.com)
NO APP TO INSTALL
The WebAR resource is one of my favorite tools because it uses WebXR to make all the magic happen in the browser. Without the need to download an app, it makes the experience run much faster.
Steps
Go to mywebar.com and select “Sign Up” to set up an account
Select “Add New Project”
Give the project a name and select the type of AR experience you want (QR code is free), then select “Create”
Upload or use the content available in the library to layer on the QR code
Select the save image and scan the QR code with a mobile device
Cost: Free for QR code
Creation Platform: Web-based
Ease of Use: Easy with added optional
Features: Use your videos and 3D object files, large 3D library on the site, added interactions in the AR experience
A new application is nearly ready to be released in the coming weeks, so stay tuned as I share this resource in an #ARVRinEDU chat this month. Unlike the tools mentioned above, this new resource will create the augmented reality in the mobile application. Stay tuned!
Want to collaborate more about each of these AR creation tools? Join the #ARVRinEDU chat tonight on Twitter to collaborate about each of these resources. It's the 4 year anniversary of the chat!!!! 🎉🎉
Are you interested in diving deeper into these resources? I’m also hosting a free webinar on Wednesday, November 18th, at 6 PM Pacific / 8 PM Central / 9 PM Eastern. Register here.
Join me at #ISTE20 Live!
I have great news! My upcoming book, The Immersive Classroom, is coming soon. When I wrote Learning Transported, I explained the technology and best practices to consider when implementing augmented and virtual reality. The Immersive Classroom explores how and why to use augmented and virtual reality with our diverse learners. I hope you’ll enjoy the stories and new tools that will reaffirm the benefits of immersive technology in education.
I’ve used these new applications in this blog post to make every image in my upcoming book come alive. The book is interactive from the front cover to the back page to personally experience immersive technology first hand. Pre-order is available now!