Playstations Used for Augmented Reality Education

A new £10 software tool that converts Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP) consoles into augmented reality viewers has been announced at the BETT Education Technology Show.

The Second Sight software, from British company Connected Education, runs on standard PlayStation Portable games consoles, which cost as little as £90. It uses the console's webcam add-on to read "sema codes" - square barcode-like markings.

Each sema code triggers an action on the console such as playing an audio file, showing a video or displaying an image. Alternatively, a 3D model can be superimposed over the code.

In a demonstration seen by Computeractive a 3D figure of Abraham Lincoln appeared, standing on the sema code, while an audio file of one of his speeches was played. Moving the PSP around a code shows all sides of the 3D model.

Connected Education's Andy Goff said the system had been tried in 20 UK schools, with applications such as sema codes printed alongside the text in Shakespeare plays that triggered an audio recording of the scene in question.

English Heritage is also testing the software for education visits to Wroxeter Roman City and Stonehenge.

"You've got inclusion, engagement - it's cool", said Mr Goff. "It all comes from the idea of reinforcing learning."

Teachers choose which content to associate with each sema code using a PC application, and schools can create new 3D models using standard programs such as 3D Studio Max. The company sells docks that can synchronise content to 16 PSP consoles simultaneously.

The software costs £10 for each PSP console, with code creation software starting at £150 per computer for primary schools and £200 for secondary schools.