The first project under this agreement with USC will focus on the advancement of Augmented Reality. Augmented Reality (AR) supplements a user’s view of the real world with three-dimensional computer graphic objects, providing a real-time, interactive and intuitive means of accessing and displaying spatial information. Where virtual reality immerses a user completely in an artificial world, augmented reality lets that user go about normal life, seeing the real world with additional information superimposed on it. For example, a tourist might be visiting a street in London and could see information about a pub they are walking by, or what’s on sale inside the store across the street.

AR is a key technology in enabling advanced mobile user applications. In this initial project, USC and Nokia will focus on new vision-based AR tracking and content recognition techniques, adapted for use on mobile platforms.

“While there is no limit on future applications for augmented reality experiences on mobile devices, the enabling technologies behind complex augmented reality are still in the research stages. It’s a great opportunity to work with visionary companies like Nokia that are investing in breakthrough research in visual recognition techniques for use on mobile devices,” said Ulrich Neumann, professor in the Computer Science Department in the Viterbi School of Engineering at the University of Southern California. “It’s exciting to work with Nokia as part of their commitment to advancing the science of interactive media.”

“USC’s history of excellence and expertise in science, engineering and the arts will greatly help Nokia in rapidly innovating advanced mobile user experiences,” said Rebecca Allen, laboratory director, Nokia Research Center Hollywood. “We are pleased to further NRC’s heritage of open innovation by working on research projects in collaboration with universities and research institutes around the world such as USC.”

“Our goal at USC is to advance the cutting-edge ideas generated in our academic environment and move them out to market, where those ideas can create a tangible impact on the way we live, work and play,” said Joe Koepnick, Senior Director for Innovation Advancement and Business Development for USC Stevens Institute for Innovation. “In recognized world leader Nokia, we found a partner poised to help us meet this goal, by advancing the breakthrough research conducted at USC to make a dramatic difference in people’s lives.”