Augmented Reality Comes to the L.A. Times Festival of Books

LOS ANGELES, April 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- This year's Los Angeles Times Festival of Books (April 13 – 14 at USC) will feature the latest advancements in augmented reality (AR) that can transform physical books into immersive virtual environments.

L.A.-based publisher The Far Sight (http://TheFarSight.com) will demonstrate its latest AR book that blends the printed page with real-life video. Festival attendees can experience "Tide Pools: An Augmented Reality Book" and get a preview of upcoming titles at the company's exhibit (Red Zone, Booth #581).

Each page of "Tide Pools" is enhanced with AR that transforms still images into real-life videos with sound, and turns diagrams and other graphics into interactive 3D models. The video appears to play directly on the pages to create a uniquely immersive reading experience. Augmented reality is facilitated by using a smartphone or tablet and free mobile app to overlay the enhanced content directly on the physical book.

"We can't wait to introduce Festival of Books attendees to the latest advancements in augmented reality publishing," said Ernest King, founder of The Far Sight. "Our approach to AR turns reading into a wonderfully immersive experience for book lovers of all ages."

Inspired by his own kids' love of sea life, Ernest created "Tide Pools: An Augmented Reality Book" to bring the sights and sounds of tide pools alive in a first-of-its-kind augmented reality experience.

What makes the book unique among AR titles is its use of real-life video to depict real-world environments. In contrast, other current AR books rely on modeling and/or animation to create entirely make-believe storytelling environments.

"By combining AR with traditional print media we're finding a new way to educate and entertain," King added. "Our goal is to make reading books a highly immersive learning experience."

Prior to launching The Far Sight in 2017, King worked as a construction engineer on landmark L.A.-area projects including the Getty Villa Museum and the California Science Center – where he helped manage construction for the 180,000-gallon Kelp Forest and Rocky Shore exhibits (an experience that further inspired him to create the new book on tide pools).

"Tide Pools: An Augmented Reality Book" is available on Amazon for $19.95. The Far Sight's companion augmented reality mobile app is available for free download via the App Store and Google Play.

For more information, visit The Far Sight (http://TheFarSight.com) and Los Angeles Times Festival of Books (https://events.latimes.com/festivalofbooks).

Contact:
Erik Deutsch
(323) 851-2455
erikd[at]excelpr[dot]com

SOURCE The Far Sight

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http://TheFarSight.com