I finally had my first view of the future a couple of days ago, in the shape of ‘The iPhone’s First Augmented Reality App”, Nearest Tube.
Nearest Tube is still undergoing approval at the iTunes Store. I’m not sure what they’re waiting for – it’s pretty simple: the app uses the compass on the iPhone 3G S to work out which direction you’re facing in, and then overlays the direction of the nearest London Underground stations over a live video feed from the built-in camera. It’s not massively accurate – but it’s massively cool.
In fact, this first glimpse of augmented reality reminds me of my first touch of the iPhone – and the sci-fi joy of those Minority Report-style gestures.
Augmented reality: my vision of the pop-up future
In truth, after 15 years of sacrificing personal space and avoiding eye contact, I’m familiar enough with London’s underground network to do without Nearest Tube. It’s a frippery that I will rarely, if ever, use – except to when I’m performing my iBore schtick for another poor, unsuspecting drone. But as well as showing me the way to an underground station I already knew, Nearest Tube also points the direction of mobile technology. By overlaying reality with extra info, it breaks down the barriers between virtual and real. And although this ‘reality’ is mediated by the dim eye of the iPhone, the concept of augmented reality is nonetheless as exciting and groundbreaking as anything I’ve seen in my time as a technology journalist.
