Jurassic Science Week
To celebrate National Science Week 2011, a national experiment aims to bring back the dinosaurs using 'Augmented Reality' technology.
In a nutshell, augmented reality (or AR) combines the real and the virtual. Unlike virtual reality which replaces the real world with a simulated one, augmented reality gives us a view of reality which has been tweaked, enhanced or augmented.
During August, these prehistoric creatures will be roaming through 14 Australian cities and towns. Along with the well known dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus Rex, Triceratops and Stegosaurus, Jurassic Science Week will bring dinosaurs like Chungkingosaurus and Parasaurolophus “back to life.”
There are eight of these augmented reality dinosaurs currently on campus in Newham, Sandy Bay and the Tasmanian School of Arts as indicated by dinosaur stickers. The national experiment finished on Sunday 21 Aug. But UTAS in Sandy Bay will have the dinosaurs for an extra week until Sunday 28 Aug. And there will be a “find the dinosaur” competition on both the Hobart and Launceston Open Days.
To view the dinosaurs, you’ll need a handy smartphone (iPhone or Android).
Visit http://nationalscienceweek.iinet.net.au/download and download Layer for either iOS or Android.
Then download the Jurassic Science Week ‘Layar’ app and you are ready to see how many dinosaurs you can find!
More details at: http://www.scienceweek.gov.au/National/JurassicScienceWeek/Pages/default.aspx