[Image: Handheld Histories as Hyper-Monuments by Carmin Karasic, Rolf van Gelder and Rob Coshow, 2007] Situated Simulations: Designing a Mobile Augmented Reality Genre :: Project Leader: Gunnar Liestøl, The INVENTIO-project, Department of Media & Communication, University of Oslo.

A situated simulation requires a broadband (3G) smartphone with substantial graphics capabilities, GPS-positioning features, accelerometer and electronic compass. In a situated simulation there is approximate identity between the users visual perception of the real physical environment and the users visual perspective into a 3D graphics environment as it is represented on the screen. The relative congruity between the real and the virtual is obtained by letting the camera position and movement in the 3D environment be determined by the positioning and orientation hardware. As the user moves in real space the perspective inside the virtual space changes accordingly.

A situated simulation is closely related to mixed and augmented reality. While mixed reality, including mobile augmented reality (MAR) is characterized by different combinations of virtual and real representations along the reality-virtuality continuum, a situated simulation is a ‘clean screen’ solution where there is a distinct (although minor) difference between the virtual perspective via the device and the real perspective of the user. Current versions of the system runs on Apple’s iPhone 3GS (other platforms are under consideration).

The project is developed in close collaboration with Tomas Stenarson at CodeGrind AB. The research is funded by the VERDIKT-programme, Norwegian Research Council, EngageLab at Intermedia, University of Oslo and the Dept. of Media & Communication, University of Oslo.