The Search for Wondla
© 2010 Simon Schuster
The Search for Wondla ($18, www.wondla.com, in stores this week), looks and smells just like a traditional new hardcover book. But three of the 477 pages contain special images that trigger an animated map when they are spotted by your Mac or Windows webcam. The technique, called "augmented reality" uses a special plugin. After a ten minute one time installation, you cli'ck on the Instant Immersion icon found on the books website to start your webcam. After you see yourself on the screen, you find one of the three icons in the book (hint, one is found on page 277) hold it up to the camera and presto, a special map pops up. The effect is amazing the first time, until you realize that you can't do anything with the map except move it around the screen. Have a look here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QayxY0ABGTE. This technology is hardly new; it's being used in a line of Mattel Avatar toys, and Topps playing cards See. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6h0rva2aos. It was developed by the French company Total Immersion (www.t-immersion.com), and if they get their wish, the old saying "you can't judge a book by it's cover" will get a little bit more more true.
$18, Windows, Mac OSX, Internet Site
Teaches: reading