We’ve written about augmented reality (AR) browser Layar a few times in the past, such as when it rolled-out 3D AR graphics back in 2009, then its Layar Vision app which brought AR to publications, and we also interviewed Layar’s CEO Raimo van der Klein back in June this year.
Now, Layar has announced the latest app to roll off its AR conveyor belt. Stiktu launched in Europe yesterday, on both Android and iOS, and it lets users add their own content to any scannable surface.
Stiktu uses augmented reality to let you express yourself on top of real-world objects…and share them with friends. You can share your favorite things, praise items you like and mock items you don’t.
You scan an image using your smartphone – in this case a box of cereal – and you can add text, images, stickers and sketches.
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Anyone who scans that item can see your post directly on top of it, wherever they are in the world. It works best with flat, well-lit items such as posters, magazines and product packaging.
As with any app worth its salt, you can share your creations with friends on Facebook and Twitter, and you can also browse popular and recent posts and choose to ‘Like’ your favorites. You can even follow other users and see what they’ve been posting
The app was launched in nine European countries yesterday, including the UK, France and Germany.
“From the very start we always wanted to give AR technology to people so they could use this powerful technology for their own benefits”, says Layar founder Maarten Lens-FitzGerald. “With Stiktu we created an app that does exactly that. Now everybody can publish augmented reality content on anything they care about.”
Meanwhile, you can see a demo video of the app in action below. Or, if you want to learn more about AR technology, you can read: Augmented Reality: Past, Present and Future. And last month we caught up with AR innovators Vuzix, who gave us the lowdown on what the future holds for augmented reality eyewear.
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