Showcase: “Location Scout” – based on Wikitude API

Mobilizy offers an API where developers can easily build their own AR application without reinventing the AR-wheel. The AR code itself is encapsulated in the API, the only thing the developer needs to do is adding the geo-referenced data (Points of Interest) to the API.

A complete tutorial and the API itself can be downloaded from www.wikitude.org/developers.

A wonderful Showcase is “Location Scout” by Jeff Gilfelt

Of course we have been curious about Jeff’s experience with the Wikitude API:

Jeff, how did you develop your AR camera-view? Was it difficult?
With the Wikitude API I don’t have to deal with any of the complexities of device positioning, orientation or camera UI. Instead I just focus on providing the geo data and let Wikitude take care of the rest. I would say most existing geo applications on Android can become AR enabled using the Wikitude API with just one or two hours of development and testing.

What do you like about the Wikitude API?
While there are alternatives available that allow you to display you own data as “Overlays” within Wikitude and other AR browsers, what I really like about the Wikitude API solution is that it provides true on-device integration that adds real value to your own app. The intent mechanism that facilitates inter-application communication is one of
Android’s most unique and powerful features. It is great to see Wikitude embracing this within their API.

What about the new features of Wikitude 4 that have just been released?
The great thing about the API is that it also enables your application to automatically leverage the continual improvements to Wikitude itself. When the new camera view enhancements were delivered in Wikitude 4, those same enhancements appeared automatically in Location
Scout.

Thanks for the interview!

About Location Scout

Location Scout is a mobile application that helps you discover filming locations for thousands of movies via information compiled by the Internet Movie Database. Location Scout has had over 16000 downloads from the Android Market. In December 2009, Location Scout was selected as one of T-Mobile USA’s “top picks” in their Android market channel and was even part of a special promotional event that took place during the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. Congratulations on this big success!