It’s been more than three decades since the inception of Augmented/Virtual Reality (AR/VR) technology but given that developmental costs were high, neither had made its way into the commercial world. But now, times are changing and more companies are figuring out that in a few more years, AR/ VR technology could become mainstream. One company that has already begun working with these technologies is the Fat Hamster Animation Studio based out of Nordic Intent in Porvorim, Goa.
With Augmented/ Virtual Reality technology gaining pace across the globe, it’s important to understand what these technologies are all about.
Augmented Reality
Augmented reality is defined as “an enhanced version of reality created by the use of technology to add digital information on an image of something.” It’s found in apps for smartphones and tablets. Augmented reality basically uses our phone’s camera to show us a view of the real world, then puts a layer of information, including text and/or images, on top of that view. Examples of this technology can be seen in apps like Pokemon Go and games like FIFA World Cup.
Virtual Reality
Virtual Reality can best be explained as “the use of computer technology to create a simulated environment.” When we view virtual reality, what we see is an entirely different reality than the one in front of us. It may be an animated scene or an actual place that has been photographed and then included in the virtual reality app. With the help of a special VR viewer, such as the Oculus Rift or even apps like Google Cardboard or Daydream View, you have the ability to look and move in every direction within the app.
Augmented reality and virtual reality can already be seen in the fields of entertainment, gaming, education, and even science, to name a few. Virtual reality has given us the chance to see and visit places we’ve never been to before, such as the top of Mt. Everest, the bottom of the Indian Ocean and even the surface of Mars.
Fat Hamster works on Augmented/Virtual Reality technology
The Fat Hamster team has shared one of their smaller projects, giving us a peek into what they are working on.
As explained by the team, what we can see in the below video is markerless 3D tracking of an actual object. The object is fed in from multiple angles into a tracking program. The program then reads the object’s many faces, making it trackable.
In this example, the team has created a simple follow along cube that has interactive objects on it. Rohan Ponniah, a co-founder of the Fat Hamster Animation Studio, says this cube has limitless possibilities. It can be used to explain how a product functions or how it can be taken apart in order to learn its inner workings. Other applications include using it as a tool for e-learning solutions in the field of education or even as an entertainment kit for a product you make. In this case, the object has been created for a mobile platform but Rohan says it can be easily transferred to any virtual reality head-mounted display or even a Vive or Oculus type of system.
To learn more about what the Fat Hamster Animation Studio can do for you with Augmented/Virtual reality as well as 2D and 3D animation and Stop-Motion/Claymation, visit their website or drop them a line at [email protected]