Mobile Apps: Layar Augmented Reality: Winnipeg Transit

Layar Winnipeg Transit Plugin

The University of Winnipeg DCE ICT Transit plugin for Layar lets you find Winnipeg Transit bus stops near your location. It provides route information and real-time details on Transit stops and more. It will even give you a walking route to the point you choose.

Layar is an Augmented Reality (AR) app that lets you view the world around you in Camera View, Map View, or List View and provides information about the Points of Interest around you, wherever you are, by placing (augmenting) additional information over what your camera sees. In this case, you see Winnipeg Transit stops that you can get details on.

When you see the blue bubbles floating on your camera screen [see screen shot at right] as you look down the street, they represent Winnipeg Transit stops within walking distance. If you tap on any of the stops, you will get information about it, including the different routes that stop there, the times of the next several buses, whether there are any special features (like Handi-Transit or Bike Racks), plus links to Winnipeg Transit's mobile schedules and more.

Requirements

To run Layar you need to have a GPS capable iPhone (3GS or later), Android, BlackBerry, or Symbian device.

Layar does not run on the original iPad, but it can work on the iPad 2 with a cellular data plan. The wifi version is not supported due to the lack of a GPS.

Make sure you have Layar installed on your phone. You can install Layar directly from your phone or by visiting www.layar.com and selecting the version of Layar appropriate for your device.

• Once you have downloaded Layar, do a search for ""Winnipeg Transit"" and you should find UWinnipeg DCE ICT Winnipeg Transit.
• Launch Winnipeg Transit to find stops within walking distance of you.
• Tap any of the floating ""Points of Interest"" (Transit stops) to view information about the next several buses.
• Tap the Info button to change the search range for buses as well as search for specific bus routes.
• Tap the Action button for Layar actions such as:
  • Add to Favorites,
  • Visit the mobile Winnipeg Transit BUSguide (m.WinnipegTransit.com),
  • Call The City of Winnipeg Services line: 311 (for Transit or any City of Winnipeg service),
  • as well as other tasks.

List View (iPhone)

Question: What is Layar Reality Browser?

Answer: According to Layar:

The Layar Reality Browser is an augmented reality app (mobile phone application) that shows you what is around you by displaying real time digital information (layers) on top of reality. This digital information is called a ""layer"".

Layers can provide services, such as finding ATMs, houses for sale and restaurants including reviews. Layers can also provide an experience with interactivity, 3D objects and sounds for games and engaging guided tours. Many layers provide both.

There are thousands of layers to choose from, both international and local, in many different categories such as Art, Architecture & Buildings, Food & Drink, Local Information, Games, Transportation and more.

Please note that the University of Winnipeg DCE is not affiliated with The City of Winnipeg. Their data is being used according to their Terms of Service. Data provided by permission of Winnipeg Transit, a department of The City of Winnipeg We are not responsible for any errors or omissions. The actual app is provided ""as is"" by Layar and UWinnipeg DCE provides a service by accessing Winnipeg Transit data within the Layar platform.