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

AR-Enhanced Titles by TheFarSight.com Create Immersive Experiences Using Real-Life Video

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 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.

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“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.

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“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.

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