Virtual. Reality.

As the geek world celebrates the tenth anniversary of the first Matrix film, we find ourselves in an age of unprecedented technological integration. We have iPhones. We have Kindles… and now we have really freakin’ cool Star Trek Ads.

These are the newest in a trendy series of “augmented reality” interactive experiences. Basically, the software utilizes your webcam to recognize visual clues and interpret them into real time graphic renderings. In the case of the link above, a small printout of a Star Trek movie poster becomes the tactile control of a three dimensional, on screen schematic of the Enterprise ship. It’s really quite impressive.

The technology isn’t incredibly new; Sony made wide use of this technique with its promotions for the Eye of Judgement game. What is new, though, is the multitude of ways this technology is being explored. Other Star Trek augmented reality promos involve using Verizon Wireless cell phone screens as the trigger. Which makes me wonder… where do we go from here?

While these promotions are all interesting, I see augmented reality as becoming something far more than a visual parlor trick. Just imagine all the different triggers you can use or the applications for this technology. Subway maps can become fully interactive information kiosks. “You are here” becomes a tangibly 3d revelation instead of an ambiguous dot. Ford can show you what it looks like from the inside of a new Mustang at any bus stop in the world. Gap can show you what their new line of Summer dresses will look like on you without ever having to set foot in the store.

Does augmented reality have a future? Who knows. After all, whoever thought we’d be seeing 3d movies again?

Dream of Silver Screen Quotations

As summer roles around, I can’t help but turn my eyes toward Hollywood. The warmer months bring the movies worth shelling out $11.50 for… or at least they used to. Growing up in the a golden era of Summer Blockbuster after Summer Blockbuster, I find it hard to believe that the big-screen-big-wigs are dropping the ball.

Let’s look at Wolverine. Now, I love me some Wolverine. I even think I had a Wolverine backpack at one point. But after years of devout fandemonium toward my favorite adamantium clawed hero, you would have to drag me kicking and screaming to go see X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Why they think they can create a worth-while picture by cramming as many mutants into it as possible is beyond me. Take Sex in the City, for example.

Now, we do still have some hope on the horizon. Star Trek opens this week with Terminator: Salvation coming a few weeks thereafter, not to mention the Transformers sequel. And lets not forget Ghosts of Girlfriend Past… wait, let’s go ahead and forget it.

I’ve never been much of a Trekkie but J.J.Abrams seems to be doing something right here. Afterall, it’s sitting at an impressive 100% on RottenTomatoes. As for Terminator? Time will tell. It has decidely less Austrian-accent than the previous three but tons more grit.

I don’t know. My hope is that this anemic start to the Summer movie season will give way to a string of nail-biters. If not, oh well. I can still look back on seeing Jurassic Park sixteen Summers ago, and like the T-Rex, maybe the perfect popcorn flicks have gone extinct.