Awesome Augmented Reality

Based on Word Lens, the Google Translate app’s visual translation feature now deciphers texts from 27 languages. To show off its versatility, Google matched the app with the lyrics to the rock & roll classic La Bamba.

Microsoft showed off its augmented reality headset HoloLens by demonstrating a new version of Minecraft made especially for the device. It will let you play on a virtual flat display on walls or project a 3D world on your desk.

Microsoft wants to take augmented reality to a whole new level, with see-through goggles which can project full color interactive 3D objects into your field of vision. It’s still a prototype, but early hands-on users are impressed.

Following up on their IllumiRoom concept, Microsoft’s RoomAlive tech surrounds users with video, and allows them to interact with content. Sadly, it requires multiple projectors and Kinects, so we doubt it’ll ever be produced.

This promising virtual reality system can be used with HDTVs, gaming consoles, PCs and anything that has an HDMI output. It also has a clever controller that can be used as a gun, a joystick, a gamepad and a motion controller.

Google Glass is still in beta, but on 4/15/14, any US resident over 18 years old will be able to purchase the wearable device. Sign up on the Glass website to get an email reminder and be back there on Tuesday to place your order.

Like the Oculus Rift, castAR glasses can display stereoscopic 3D video and track motion. But its defining feature is the ability to project video or images in front of the wearer, allowing for more social applications and tangible interaction.

Greg Kumparak made his small scale model of Doctor Who’s unique ride appear bigger on the inside. He made an augmented reality mobile app that shows a 3D model of the TARDIS’ interior.

Using AR tech and a special t-shirt, a 3D, moving Alien chestburster pops forth from its wearers chest. Get the app free for iOS or Android, and the T-shirt for 30 bucks or print your own target.

Using a sandbox equipped with a Kinect and a projector, this interactive environment displays a live topographic map based on the height of the sand, and simulates water flowing through valleys.

Taking a cue from the Nintendo 3DS, the PlayStation Vita will ship with 6 AR cards for use in augmented reality games, three of which will be available at launch and downloadable for free. More here.

Creative design studio Appshaker created a live augmented reality setup for National Geographic. They displayed live footage of bystanders with interactive CGI, which included a huge T-Rex.

Augmented Reality Cinema is a conceptual app that automagically recognizes the location of the user and then plays a scene from a movie that took place in that exact same location.

New augmented reality tech melds physical and virtual worlds without those pesky markers other AR technologies use. Instead, SmartAR recognizes images and objects. Another cool demo here.

This video of an augmented reality billboard in the Netherlands was set up by the Dutch government to speak out against violence that public service employees encounter while performing their duties.

The UK promotion site for Iron Man 2 features an augmented reality app that lets visitors wear the Iron Man and War Machine helmets and view their HUDs. Caution: Slow load times ahead!

Equal parts scary and awesome, Keiichi Matsuda’s Augmented (hyper)Reality dreams up an augmented future that borders on information chaos with overlays (and ads) aplenty.

This Rock, Paper, Scissors Tee is no ordinary shirt: it’s part of an augmented reality game where a hand emerges from your tee to challenge you; no tee? Get a printable version here.

Augmented reality goes political with Sunlight Labs’ Recovery.gov and Layar mashup; it gives us a tangible idea of where the $787 billion in Uncle Sam’s pocket change has gone.

Last augmented reality vid for now, we promise: Todd Vanderlin’s AR Scratching lets you scratch just about anything (not just records), instantly turning you into a pseudo disc jockey.