Kids from 6 years on up and teens in high school who are interested in STEAM or science, technology, engineering, art, and math are invited to join this augmented reality summer art and comic camp. The camp is run by Integem, goes for two weeks, and welcomes all curious kids regardless of their familiarity with computers and technology.
The techy summer camp is set up in northern California at locations in none other than Silicon Valley. Taking place in one of the best areas for leading-edge innovation, Integem’s Holographic AR camp teaches their campers how to make their own digital comics, cartoons, while learning how to build up their computer skills.
In a world where augmented reality is finding uses in storytelling with digital fairytales, gaming with our favorite cartoons, for franchise movie extras, trying and buying shoes, and now as a tool to watch Grammy award-winning musicians dance, the future of AR’s success rests in our hands and in the skills kids are exposed to early on.
Integem’s CEO Dr. Eliza Du in the company’s press release says, “Each student will learn to create their own Holographic AR cartoon or comic movie using their own arts. The Holographic AR camp is designed to let students learn at their own pace, and is suitable for students with all computer skills, from zero skills to nerdy programmers.”
Since AR already has a treasure trove of uses in the arts and sciences, parents with kids that thrive with a marker or stylus in their hand or know their way around a keyboard, tablet, or computer will want to think about enrolling their kid in this camp.
The summer camp uses iCreator to help kids turn their ideas into augmented reality art that brings kid-friendly and imaginative environments to the real world with technology. Integem’s website says that kids can bring their own computer or use one of the camps devices.
Kids can create games and experiences that are as wacky and fun as they are and also get help from knowledgable instructors. Each group is said to have 1 instructor for every 8 kids. Not bad in comparison to public school settings for day camps that aren’t nearly as specialized as this one is.
“Through Holographic AR technology users are transferred from the real world into a simulated location (e.x. art world) where they can affect and interact with the created world through hand gestures and body movements.” says their release.
Campers in the past have made cave digging games where players look for gems, designed games with aliens that teach kids lessons on how not to get a detention, and lots of imaginative uses. One camper even made a pick your own adventure game where players picked between a canoe or vehicle, leading to two different outcomes.
Kids and teens will work with 2D holographic AR, which may spark an interest in the field at large. Who knows, maybe one day these kids will create something so funny, exciting to play, or useful that everyone will be downloading it.
