Polylinks Catalogue + Augmented Reality

Augmented Reality (AR) is a technology that superimposes a computer-generated image on a user’s view of the real world, thus providing a composite view. For architects and designers, AR enables them to better communicate design intent. A challenge for architects is that of communicating concepts and visions for buildings. For many it is difficult to imagine that concept or vision through a floor plan. The advantage to using augmented reality is in the communication of ideas, concepts and the vision for their building. This enables all the parties to more quickly reach a full appreciation of the building plan. When everyone shares a common understanding of the design, the project is executed more efficiently. There are a lot of apps that provides the AR experience and one of them is Augment (http://www.augmentedev.com/).

In my last tutorial, I used Augment to help me create a catalogue of my design which is a system based on regular polylinks. From the system, I have managed to get a lot of different 3D model based on several parameters. Using Augment, I am able to show the 3D model to people just by scanning the embedded image.

The design is based on regular polylinks by sculptor George W. Hart. It is made of a icosahedron with each edges being replaced with different kind of curves. Each face of the icosahedron is then manipulated with different parameters the get different designs. The images below have been embedded with the 3D model where people can scan using the Augment app (link to download is provided at the end) to see the 3D model. The 3D models are limited for now to the ones highlighted with the dashed-line box (click the image, zoom to full size and scan it via Augment). The model can be zoom in by pinching two fingers and rotate by scrolling two fingers in the same direction.

One of the configuration was chosen to be built and further changes to the parameter are done to ensure it will be easier to build. (click image and scan)