Detroit And Google Introduce Lumin: A New Augmented App That Will Change The Way We Look At Art

Augmented Reality (AR) is one of the most interesting technology advancement in modern times. In 90's there was a wide spread rumor about a camera that can see through dresses, a new AR device brings that rumor to reality, though in a more intriguing way.

According to Hyperallergic, the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) is launching an augmented reality app which will help the art lovers, especially those who often go to museums and study relics, to expand their area of understanding about a particular subject. The app named 'Lumin' is intended as an interpretive guide and it is developed by DIA in collaboration with Google and GuidiGO, an augmented reality (AR) platform maker..

Lumin does not just let one see through the preferred object but also gives out valuable information about the particular artifact. Facts that lie under a Mummy's age old bandages and relics are revealed by this app. For example, a mummy's skull having a fracture in it is not visible to the normal eye but the AR app Lumin can show it on the screen and give out information about the skeleton.

According to Detroit Institute of Arts, there are certain other features that are exclusive to Lumin. Such as, while looking through it to a beige limestone sculpture the screen displays the vivid imagery of colors that originally embellished the walls of a thousand year old Assyrian palace. Also the visitors can walk through a digital re-establishment of ancient Babylonian gates when the device is placed in front of a section of the wall from the Ishtar Gate. Besides, the mapping capabilities whose interface resembles with that of Google Maps will also help the museum visitors to find their way to particular galleries, restrooms, restaurants and the museum shop inside the DIA.

Sponsored by the J. Addison and Marion M. Bartush Family Foundation, the project comprises of seven tour steps including a number of AR experiences. The users have to hold a Lenovo Phab 2 Pro, a 6'4" Android smartphone on which the app will work. AR overlays, touch based animations and even simple games, quizzes and puzzles will appear from time to time on the app screen to unleash sounds and images relevant to the artworks. Lumin, whose name has been derived from the "lumen" that means "light" in Latin, is still in its prototype stage and the DIA will be looking into user feedback if there are any changes that are to be made in the planned tour programs. The museum will also make additional stops based on visitor inputs.

Art and technology do not go hand in hand usually but this particular initiative by the DIA is supposed to bring them together for a unique user experience that's filled with both recreation and information.

TagsLumin, Augmented Reality, Detroit, Google, GuidiGO, Museum