"Atlas 2012" augmented reality: A case study in the domain of fine arts

Abstract

The article presents a case study of artistic use of augmented reality built with the Layar augmented reality application. Members of ArtNetLab, a group of new media artists, have conceptualized a series of projects for geolocated virtual objects (augments), that can be perceived by means of smart-phone or tablet-computer applications in the urban space of a city. The user experience in art is not limited to practical and efficient use of a gadget directed towards a predetermined set of actions, instead it has to involve the user in the art experience, and this opens up a broad field of conceivable contexts. Our case study presents an art project that proposes and tests a concrete solution to the latent question proposed by an existing technology, and we describe how the artists encoded meanings by using a ubiquitous mobile platform for augmented reality. © 2013 Springer-Verlag.