Wikitude World Browser
March 19, 2010 | Written by Megan Levi
Although I have known of the Wikitude World Browser for some time, my research into the travel social media space allowed for a thorough investigation of this insightful app. The Wikitude World Browser provides travelers with an experienced, educated travel guide that fits in their pocket and has limitless knowledge about the world over. This app could even change how we view landmarks, monuments, and notable sights.
Using augmented reality (virtual data on top of real-time camera views from a smartphone), GPS and the compass feature built into the Android and iPhone 3GS, Wikitude displays information about your surroundings. Facts, distance from your current location, and names of landmarks, monuments and other points of interest pop up as you scan the area with your phone’s camera. Check out a demo video from one of the developers here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EA8xlicmT8 .
Wikitude.me is what makes this app truly innovative. Members of the Wikitude.me community are given the power to “embed unique points of interest (POI) and location-specific, hyperlinked media content which can be viewed on the WIKITUDE World Browser.” This tool enables users to “Geo-tag your world,” by adding content to the Wikitude and viewing it through the Wikitude browser. As far as I understand, once these user generated points of interest are part of the Wikitude, they are viewable by all users of the Wikitude World Browser.
This revolutionary idea has the potential to transform our views of what we consider monumental and noteworthy out in the world. For example, if I am using the Wikitude World Browser in Puerto Rico and see that the sight where the Battle of San Juan was fought is just half a mile away from me, but Melody G. from North Carolina has used Wikitude.me to tell me about the best snorkeling she has ever encountered, including a giant sea turtle sighting, only one and half miles away where do you think I’m going?
Let me know if you have expeience with the Wikitude World Browser, or any other cool travel- related apps!
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