Layar

Category: Reference, Augmented Reality, Social, Navigation

(Free) - This isn't necessarily useful, but it provides a demonstration of the promise of "augmented reality" (which I'm guessing is the "AR" in the name). By utilizing your mobile device's camera, GPS receiver, compass, accelerometer, and information acquired from the Internet, Layar presents you with a realtime "heads-up" display of points of interest around your current location. As you hold up your device and turn around, Layar shows you in which direction and how far away points of interest are. There are downloadable Layar "layer" modules for many interests: food, drink, entertainment, real estate, crime statistics, Twitter . . .

While it's fun and compelling, I haven't thus far found Layar useful. It would be most interesting as a pedestrian in an ultra urban locale like San Francisco or Manhattan. Theoretically, an AR app should allow you to answer questions like "what's that building?" and "what's down that block?"

(Layar)