Sony turns to augmented reality to sell tellies
See how your new set will look in situ
After a new telly but not sure how it'll look in your living room? Sony has come up with a neat way to find out, using augmented reality.
Print out the marker you can download from Sony's site. Position the print where you plan to place your panel. Take a snap with your phone or camera, and when you've uploaded it to Sony's site, you'll be presented with a piccy showing the screen in situ.
From this...
You can select any of seven screens ranging from 26in to 60in - all Bravias, natch - and the online software will postion them right on top of the marker in the photo, be it on a horizontal surface or the wall.
...to this. I think we need a bigger set
You can even pic one of five images to place on the screen. Sony being Sony, it hasn't resisted the temptation to present you with a series of shots from games running on its PlayStation 3 and from Sony Pictures' Blu-ray Disc releases.
AR is utterly gimmicky, of course, but here, for once, is a kind of useful application of the tech.
Telly on the wall or the table? It'll handle both
Of course, when you've found what looks the right size, check out Reg Hardware's guide to choosing HD screen sizes to make sure the set really is big enough for your hi-def viewing pleasure. ®
COMMENTS
Gotta say...
... Well done Sony, that's a genius idea.
Augmented reality is one of those things that are so simple in concept, but amazes me anyway at the things we can do in small packages like our smartphones. Be great if one day we could virtually try on clothes, look at homewares in our living room etc
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Oh we could have some fun with this!
Place marker in a half full skip, take picture, upload.
Place marker in an alley next to some bins, take picture, upload.
Place marker at a bus stop, take picture, upload.
Place marker in the middle of the road, take picture, upload.
Anyhow, you get the idea. The unwanted Sony telly gallery, ho ho.
Upload the "image"
Im sure Lulzsec/Anonymous are all over this section considering Sony's previous security encounters.
Clever but sensible idea
I like this idea, is different but what we should expect in this day.
However does it include room for your PVRs, Consoles, Home Cinema stuff?
