Create your own Augmented Reality location-based adventure! #edtech

I have had the opportunity to share multiple ways of incorporating location-based data in both virtual and augmented reality. One of my favorites methods has been the use of Wikitude’s developer zone which was leveraging Google my maps content in the form of KML files to publish AR content. I just found out today from Wikitude that this publishing service is no longer offered… talk about living it beta! I wanted to share with you and alternative method introduced to me by my colleague, Jeff Crews (@crewsertech),, called Metaverse.

After investigating Metaverse I found that not only does it do the same things as the Wikitude AR process but it actually does significantly more. Metaverse is a very powerful platform for producing multiple forms of AR, everything from multiple choice questions, to using your camera to do a Google Image Search, to geo-location experiences. And Metaverse is free (it’s appropriate to be excited) with many tutorials available on their YouTube channel.

In this particular blog, I would like to focus on the Metaverse process of creating location-based experiences in AR as a means to replace, and go beyond, the Wikitude process I have shared with many of you.

Before going into this process you should try out the Metaverse “How to: Silicon Valley Hot Dog” example. It sounds pretty silly, but it is an incredibly powerful tool with many uses. Creating this example will also give you an “experience” to use in the steps below.

Here are the steps reviewed in this tutorial.

1. Click on the Gear (Initial Scene)
2. Click on “Experience type” on the left-hand side.
3. Change the position to a “Fixed position”
4. A position map will appear on the left, click on it to open it.
5. Use the search box to identify the location you would like to use for your AR experience.

NOTE: The pencil in the bottom left-hand corner will allow you to input GPS coordinates. Also note, the image and blue dot are not drag-able, so you must drag the map to bring your target location into the center (under the blue dot).

1. Click “Update location” and the experience will appear when users arrive near your location.
2. To make the experience accessible to anyone, Click on “Discovery”  and turn on the “Allow standalone discovery” feature. Anyone walking near your location will see your experience and be able to participate.