The New York Times has eagerly sought out the benefits that augmented reality (AR) can bring to the world of journalism with its NYT app, which provides a number of AR features to enhance the news and articles featured on it. To commemorate the launch of NASA’s InSight spacecraft, NYT have launched a new AR feature.
The New York Times’ new feature covers the history of the various spacecraft who have tried to gather information about the Red Planet and features several interactive AR elements to enhance the article.
The feature covers the history of Mars missions and what they managed to accomplish, from the 1965 Mariner 4 spacecraft which got the first close-up image of another planet, to details on the current InSight mission and what NASA hopes it will achieve.
The aid in understanding, the NYT app features an interactive globe of Mars, with the locations of all the places where spacecraft have safely touched down to gather data, including the two rovers that are still operating, the Curiosity rover that has been exploring the Gale Crater since 2012, and the Opportunity Rover, which has been on the surface since 2004.
Another interactive AR element is a 3D render of the InSight lander. By touching the different components, users can learn what each of them do, and why they are important for advancing our knowledge of Mars.
The InSight has several tasks ahead of it when it lands on the Martian surface on 26th November, 2018. It has a seismometer to search for the presence of ‘Marsquakes’ as well as the effects of meteorite impacts and the tidal gravity effects from the moon Phobos. Another device will hammer itself into the surface to detect heat flow from the interior pf the planet.
The full AR feature can be experiences by using the NYT app, which is available for free and is compatible with newer iPhones and iPads and Android devices. Further news on new AR projects and features will be here on VRFocus.
via Mint VR