Interview with Developer of iHUD

January 5th, 2010 2 Comments

We recently were able to talk with the head of Aero Visions International Inc, the development company behind the augmented reality app iHUD. Before we get to the interview, let’s discuss their application.

iHUD is an app that turns your iPhone 3G or 3GS into an aerospace-inspired mobile cockpit. You are presented with a simulated moving horizon based on the vehicle’s acceleration, dynamic moving speed, altitude and vertical velocity ribbons, rotating compass card, slip/skid ball, and separate accelerometer (G-meter). All of this information is elegantly laid on top of the device’s camera view. This data provides optimal situational awareness and is made possible by the iPhone’s on-board accelerometer and GPS sensor. One of the really cool features of this app is its ability to project the display onto your car’s windshield. This app is currently priced at $5.99 and is definitely worth picking up.

App Store Link: iHUD $5.99

Now for our interview with Jurg Sommerauer from Aero Visions International Inc.

1) How did you come to your decision of developing an ‘augmented reality’ application?

Since a long time we pondered the idea to add an augmented reality feature (AR) to our aviation inspired head-up display (HUD) showing spatial motion information using the Multi Function Display (MFD) of the existing iHUD while seeing through the camera of the iPhone. Not unless we had a better handle on the API in OS 3.0 we implemented AR.

2) What is your opinion of the capability of the iPhone’s hardware in terms of handling augmented reality applications?

The provided hardware in iPhone 3GS provides the basic hardware to implement AR quite well, so does the API now, except for video.

3) Are you optimistic about the future of augmented reality on mobile devices and can you predict any possible future applications for this technology?

There is a lot of possible scenarios wit AR. We have seen already superb apps based on AR, and more will come integrating data base of the real world we are living in making it possible to identify and act upon on-the-fly.

4) Do you plan to develop another augmented reality application?

We intend to refine our iHUD spatial motion information for 3D navigation combined with AR. But for this we will need an onboard gyro (which may hopefully be provided in the next hardware upgrade).

Here two screen shots showing iHUD in the normal MFD mode and the AR mode.