Augmented Reality Plug-in for Google Sketch-Up released

JClements · 18 Dec 2008, 19:12

Chris: please read your personal messages.

Graziano: Would your display paper "substrate" work on a vertical surface? For instance, to display an instrument panel.

matteo · 18 Dec 2008, 20:27

graziano,
that's utterly fantastic!

complimenti.
/matteo

Chris Fullmer · 19 Dec 2008, 06:46

ok, I had a chance to test it out. AWESOME! Very cool indeed! I have no idea what I would use it for, but who cares! Its great. I had recently seen this technology showcased somewhere else and thought it was way cool, too bad I'd never use it. Then within a week you come posting the plugin for my favorite (only) 3d software. Very cool, thanks!

Chris

Graziano Terenzi · 19 Dec 2008, 11:59

Thank you again. Any suggestion for improving the ARplugin is welcome. So feel free to comment. I have seen many portfolios of ours...you are doing great work with Sketchup! This is really a lively comunity.
Graziano

JClements · 19 Dec 2008, 21:37

Graziano:

What can you tell us about running an animated model.

I saw one animation on You Tube. Can the animation be controlled (started, stopped) from within SketchUp?

Are there plans to enhance animation capabilities?

Chris Fullmer · 19 Dec 2008, 22:59

I tried it with an animated dynamic component. It didn't work. I think my DC made me wait until it was done animating before I was allowed to activate anything else - including the arplugin. It would be cool.

Chris

Graziano Terenzi · 20 Dec 2008, 15:37

Well, with reference to animated models I have to remark that the general framework of ARmedia allows the visualization of animated models as well as the definition of suitable control actions over the models themselves. For what concerns Sketchup, we are studying to which extent Sketchup is compatible with the treatment of animations within our framework and enventually which steps should be taken in order to extend the Plugin.

Graziano

chrisglasier · 21 Dec 2008, 02:51

@unknownuser said:

For what concerns Sketchup, we are studying to which extent Sketchup is compatible with the treatment of animations within our framework ...

Another quick example to the one posted before in this thread shows animation of a Sketchup component made and controlled by html and javascript in a Sketchup web dialog box: [flash=425,344:3n0xxamk]http://www.youtube.com/v/kDtHvf4wd8w[/flash:3n0xxamk]
I too would be interested whether there could be any interoperability with ARmedia.

Chris
Edit: BTW please note that a number of component instances can move along different paths at different speeds at the same time.

Gaieus · 21 Dec 2008, 08:00

Wow, Chris, I'd really like a loo like that. Moving around in the apt would be cool while potting! I even thought you'd go downstairs in that elevator...

Joking aside; really cool animation

(I saw the other one with the vertical bath tub the other day and funny ideas came to my mind as well)

chrisglasier · 21 Dec 2008, 08:18

@gaieus said:

... I even thought you'd go downstairs in that elevator...

Can you wait a couple of weeks?

@gaieus said:

(I saw the other one with the vertical bath tub the other day and funny ideas came to my mind as well)

I think I should explain that I don't have a sanitaryware fetish, I use its components because they have the most awkward sizes and shapes, have multiple plumbing connections, strange relationships with accessories like toilet roll holders and all have to be fitted into the smallest of spaces. I hope I have made my case (or do you think I'm overcompensating?)

Chris

Gaieus · 21 Dec 2008, 08:27

@chrisglasier said:

I think I should explain that I don't have a sanitaryware fetish, ... (or do you think I'm overcompensating?)

I didn't mean that... just joking...

ScottPara · 22 Dec 2008, 02:40

I am wondering about the capabilities of this plugin in regards to:

are the file size limitations to this plugin? whether it be number of faces or overall file size. We ran a large model (400+mb) at it and it never recognized the model before the 30 second limitation was up.

Can there be multiple markers within a single model? Meaning, can we have one marker for a conference room and then transfer to a marker in an office without loading a seperate model? Other AR's offer a function like this I am just wondering if this could be a possibility with this plug in.

What else is offered with a purchased license that we not have with the demo?

Scott

MALAISE · 22 Dec 2008, 08:19

Hi Graziano

I'm encountering some difficulties when using ARplugin. I'm asked for connecting a cam whereas it's already connected but not recognized.

Questions : do we have to use Sketchup V7 ? ( I still use V6 )
Is the size of the skp file is involve into image calculation ( more then 30 s are needed) ?
Does the cam automatically switch on, when the plugin is running ?

I tested a similar software and it had worked (ARTAG demo).

Thanks for any, even short advices

MALAISE

Graziano Terenzi · 22 Dec 2008, 15:15

Hi Scott,
I'm going to answer your questions:

@unknownuser said:

I am wondering about the capabilities of this plugin in regards to:
are the file size limitations to this plugin? whether it be number of faces or overall file size. We ran a large model (400+mb) at it and it never recognized the model before the 30 second limitation was up.

Talking about the recognition capabilities of the plugin, models size is not a limitation nor it is the models complexity. Of course users must have enough resources to treat such big models like in any real-time application. Specifically, one point that deserves attention is texturing: many 3D graphic cards that cannot treat non-power of 2 textures dimensions, usually will try to rescale textures on-the-fly each time the model should 'appear' on screen, so if there are lots of such textures and not enough video memory, you could experience delays before the object is actually displayed. I'd like to remark that models that should be rendered in real-time deserve attention both in keeping a low polygons count and in using 'standard' size textures.

@unknownuser said:

Can there be multiple markers within a single model? Meaning, can we have one marker for a conference room and then transfer to a marker in an office without loading a seperate model? Other AR's offer a function like this I am just wondering if this could be a possibility with this plug in.

Basically, our framework allows to have the same object associated to many markers, as well as to have many objects associated to the same marker or different markers. It also allows to have some relationship among markers for the same objects. If you mean to have two distinct models associated with two distinct markers, it is possible within ARmedia, even though it is not yet implemented in the ARplugin as such. This functionality will surely come with a future upgrade. On the other hand, if you refer to a single distributed application running on two or more machines at the same time, this also could be implemented on demand but would be far beyond the scope of a basic version of ARplugin.

@unknownuser said:

What else is offered with a purchased license that we not have with the demo?
Scott

The licensed version allows you to have a customizable message, no time limit. We are also adding other functionalities that will be released soon after this first market test, that will be provided to customers of the previous release with no additional cost.

I hope I covered each point
Regards

Graziano

Graziano Terenzi · 22 Dec 2008, 15:30

Hi Malaise,

with reference to your basic problem

@unknownuser said:

I'm encountering some difficulties when using ARplugin. I'm asked for connecting a cam whereas it's already connected but not recognized.

maybe you are using a computer (e.g. a laptop) with two webcam installed. In this case you should try to make sure of having only one webcam enabled, the other must be disabled.

@unknownuser said:

Questions : do we have to use Sketchup V7 ? ( I still use V6 )

No, Sketchup V6 works fine.

@unknownuser said:

Is the size of the skp file is involve into image calculation ( more then 30 s are needed) ?

As I have remarked in a previous post, model size is not a problem for the plugin. However if teh model is very big, it could take more than 30 sec to load. This is not a limitation of the full version.

@unknownuser said:

Does the cam automatically switch on, when the plugin is running ?

This depends on the settings of your computer, not on the plugin. Generally it does.

Feedback is always welcome

Graziano

Mike Lucey · 22 Dec 2008, 16:01

Hi Guys,

I have yet to try out the great plug-in. I have been thinking about exactly what it is and I suppose the name, Augmented Reality, pretty much discribes the product. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augmented_reality

I imagine 'Virtual' Prototyping might be another way of describing the product? Then again 'Prototyping' doesn't mean a lot to non tech people in general.

Now don't laugh ..... PLEASE!!!! I think it should be called Magic Model! I can imagine showing a client / customer, with NO CLUE about this stuff, a video of the model JUST APPEARING after I utter the words Abracadabra or Hocus Pokus! It could be fun

Mike

thomthom · 22 Dec 2008, 16:10

Just had a little play around. Worked quite well. Just had to play around with the position of the camera and the lighting in the room in order to make it work smoothly.

Chris Fullmer · 22 Dec 2008, 18:44

Mike, if you have a webcam plugged in and working, you seriously have to try this plugin. Its VERY easy to install and get working. And its just a single click of a button that starts the thing inside of SketchUp. Its quite normally.

Except on my in-laws computer where I'm on vacation for a while. I installed it here and it all went just fine, but when I tried to run it the first time, it asked me to select a video input device. And it had a list of 2. But I've only got 1 installed. The 2nd one was something like ATI unified stream or something. I really don't rememebr exactly what it said. Anyhow, from the list I selected the quickcam, but it just shows a black screen when the plugin is running. Even the quickcam works great, we use it for videoconferencing. So I'm wondering how to get back to selecting the video input device so I can see exactly what it thinks is installe so maybe I can track it down and disable it. Any ideas how to do that? I'd love to show this to my inlaws. They are doing lots of interior decorating and I could show them some alternatives for fun. Thanks in advance Graziano! This really is a cool plugin,

Chris

Mike Lucey · 22 Dec 2008, 19:03

Chris,

My initial problem is that I have to swing over the Bootcamp on the Mac and get things up and running. It no big deal really just a nuisance. Still, I'm looking forward to giving it a bash.

I will have a think about the problem you mention and if I come up with anything I will post. Again, I am sure somebody will pipe up soon with advise.

Mike

Mike Lucey · 22 Dec 2008, 19:11

Guys,

I wonder if this plug-in could be leveraged to create a movie of a building plot with an SU model in-situ. I have looked at various ways of doing this but it involved expensive complex applications AND a LOT of skills which I don't have presently.

Here is the scenario,

Rig up a video camera for making an moving video. I have information on how to make low cost devices that will keep the 'path' of the video camera 'smooth'!
Walk or drive past a plot of land that is to be the site of a new building that I am designing and make a video.
What I have in mind and investigated is a way (simple) to place the SketchUp model on the video.

This would make this plug-in invaluable when it comes to 'selling' the idea to the Planning Authorities.

Now, this would be a Magic Model

Mike