Dear All,

As we mentioned last week Layar has been hard at work adding exciting new innovations to the clients and platform, and we’re finally ready to spill the beans about Layar Vision! To get a jumpstart, we’re announcing a major Creation Challenge!

Layar Vision

Layar Vision is an extension of the Layar platform. Layar can now enhance offline media with augmented reality experiences that can be launched from triggers like magazines, posters and newspapers. The Layar browser can tell which objects in the real world are augmented because the visual fingerprints of the objects are preloaded into the application based upon the user’s layer selection. It’s:

• FAST: Instantaneous detection without the need for scanning by the user
• FLEXIBLE: Add actions like 3D models, animation, audio, video and sharing to defined object targets
• VERSATILE: Combine up to 50 defined location- and vision-based augmentations in one experience
• EFFICIENT: Develop a layer once and have it be available for both Android and iOS

Layar Vision can easily be added to existing location-based layers, so you can essentially “upgrade” your existing layers to include Layar Vision.
Check out our Layar Vision video for a closer look at this exciting new feature, and read the documentation here. We are releasing the Android client and publishing platform with Layar Vision enabled in beta in the coming weeks so you can start building!

Layar Creation Challenge

As mentioned, to jumpstart the launch of Layar Vision, we're hosting a Layar Creation Challenge, worth $55,000 in total cash prizes! The 10 developers who create the most useful, creative or otherwise impressive layers with Layar Vision will receive anywhere from $2,500 to $15,000! The winners will be picked by our international jury of AR wizards.
The key dates are as follows:

• August 2nd – Registration begins
• August 15th – Submissions open
• September 15th – Submission deadline
• September 22nd – Finalists announced
• October 3rd – Winners announced

Complete rules and details are available on our Layar Creation Challenge page.

*Dates are subject to change
Well, what are you waiting for? Enter now! We can’t wait to see what you come up with!

Best wishes,

The Layar Team