I’ve been fascinated with augmented reality (AR) since learning about projects like Layar and WordLens. These apps combine the camera, GPS, gyros, processing power and constant connectedness of smart phones to add layers of meta-information on top of the world around us.

My interest in this application of technology and information should come as no surprise—technical illustration practically is augmented reality. It makes hidden or obfuscated information visible and intelligible. What might have been buried in a database or engineering drawing is made plain for anyone to see.

What’s especially exciting is seeing all the hardware and software that will make this a reality already out there, just waiting for a novel package. Siri on the new iPhone 4S is just a peek; speech-to-text is nothing new and Wolfram Alpha has been around for a couple of years.

Imagine the combination of the Microsoft Kinect-style 3D camera, stereoscopic 3D video visor, and wireless video streaming to the smartphone in your pocket for processing via AirPlay. All of a sudden, the future seems a lot closer. Your jetpack? It’s right here.

As for goggles-less AR, don’t worry, it’s coming.

It’s been a busy summer! Working with great clients on really interesting projects, teaching my robot intern how to draw, developing my editorial illustration portfolio, and now adding a little polish to this site.

In addition to the sliding showcase above, I’ve also added new work in my Technical Illustration and Infographics portfolios.

Take a look, and stay frosty!

I got an early start on my spring cleaning and today I debut two new portfolios.

The first is a selection of information graphics, or infographics, I’ve created for various clients. Infographics are any form of visual communication design, regardless of content or style. Since technical illustration might be considered a subset of this broadly defined discipline, I’ll be using it to refer to a flatter, more graphic method of working that places greater emphasis on quantitative information, processes & instructions, and less on surface & materiality. Don’t know what I mean? Check out the portfolio!

The second portfolio is my new alter ego of sorts, Textbook Example. All of my editorial illustrations have moved over there.

Textbook Example is a smart, playful look at science & technology issues and required reading for our increasingly complex world. The work combines a love for crusty cloth bound hardcovers, visions of the future from the past and state of the art bleeding edge technology.

Look forward to new work in all portfolios the coming weeks!

I’d like to wish everyone happy holidays and all the best of the season. I feel very fortunate to have worked with so many amazing people on so many groundbreaking projects in 2010, and I look forward to what 2011 may bring.

I’d also like to announce that I’ve relocated from drizzly Vancouver, British Columbia to my snowy hometown of Toronto, Ontario. Through the wintery magic of the internets I’m still available at info@jamesprovost.com or 416-669-5448, I’ll just be answering calls three hours earlier.

Thank you. All the best to you & yours.

It should come as no surprise that I’m a huge fan of Mythbusters. I like their “failure is always an option” maxim, meaning if you have an idea you should try it out, what’s the worst that can happen?

While watching the program one day, I noticed something weird about their forklift — it moved sideways. It didn’t just turn on a dime, but actually moved perpendicular to the direction of the wheels. Upon closer inspection, they looked more like worm gears than wheels. The answer was just a Google away: The Mythbusters’ forklift is equipped with Mecanum Wheels, also known as Omni Wheels or Ilon Wheels. These wheels work by rotating independently, depending on the desired direction of travel.

I had an idea that this might make for an interesting motion graphic (above), since still images really don’t do this technology justice. So I tried it out (what’s the worst that can happen?)