Android phones give augmented reality view of Australian Open

Stephen Withers
Monday, 18 January 2010 08:03

Your IT - Mobility

The IBM Seer application for Android mobile phones provides an augmented reality view of Melbourne Park and the Australian Open tennis tournament.

It's the second half of January, so there's sure to be some news from IBM about the technology deployed at this year's Australian Open tennis tournament.

IBM's been the technology supplier to the Australian Open since the year dot (OK, since 1993) and it has done a good job of using the event as a showcase. Examples that come readily to mind include networked connections to the outside courts allowing real-time data capture, 'netcam', the publishing of live scores to the event's website at the same time as the in-venue signage, and on-demand delivery of capacity.

This year's selling point is interesting, but isn't as widely useful as some of the previous innovations.

For 2010, IBM is providing an augmented reality view of the Melbourne Park complex - but it only works with Android-based mobile phones, which aren't exactly commonplace.

The IBM Seer application - available from the Android Marketplace - was first deployed at last year's Wimbledon tournament. Points of interest around Melbourne Park have been plotted, so the live view from the phone's camera can be overlaid with static labels and live data such as the current score in the match in progress on the court that the user is facing.

Notes from IBM's Twitter scouts are also presented.

The app can also display nearby points of interest, plus a map of the complex showing the user's current location.

"By combining location awareness with up-to-date information on play, amenities and transportation, Tennis Australia is able to provide an even more dynamic, intelligent and immersive Australian Open experience for tennis fans," said Tennis Australia CEO Steve Wood.

If you can't make it to the Open, or if you don't have an Android phone, there's a video demo here.