Walking Directions, Assisted by Augmented Reality

"Google Maps released an augmented reality (AR) feature, Live View, to help pedestrians navigate more effectively," reports Katie Pyzyk.

"The feature overlays a live video feed on the map. Directional arrows and street names appear on the video feed to provide more intuitive navigation and give the user a sense of exactly where they are and where they need to go.'

The new feature is intended to become a permanent element of Google Maps, according to a Google spokesperson quoted in the article. The article has more details about the availability of the new feature (locations and devices), as well as the potential benefits and risks of AR features used in the public realm.

Augmented reality is making steady progress into the mainstream app world. An AR public art app was released by Apple over the weekend in six cities.