This week in the AT&T Classroom the morning campers are learning to create augmented reality projects using the MERGE Cube. Augmented Reality (AR) refers to tools that extend the physical world to include components of the virtual world. With augmented reality, the user is augmenting their physical world by adding layers of media that pop-up when the user is in a specific location and/or scans objects with a phone or tablet. The MERGE Cube is a holographic toy that allows children to physically hold and interact with 3D objects using AR technology. This morning the campers were introduced to the CoSpaces EDU platform, which they will use to build and animate their own 3D creations, which they will project onto their MERGE Cube to explore in Augmented Reality. CoSpaces EDU is a cloud-based 3D AR/VR creation environment. Children are able to drag and drop 3D objects and images to various scenes that can be viewed by online, or by using AR/VR tools such as MERGE Cubes or Google Cardboard-based virtual reality (VR) headsets. The platform also features an optional programming environment in which children can make their creations interactive via JavaScript or Blockly scripts.
