The OpenIllusionist Project aims to provide a framework for the development of augmented reality applications. Augmented reality is a method of computer interaction that blurs the distinction between the real world and the virtual world of the computer. By using a video camera or a webcam and some form of feedback, be it through speakers, a monitor or a data projector, a physical area can provide an intuitive interface to a PC. Rather than pointing and clicking, you just grab with your hand. Rather than dragging the mouse to draw lines, you simply use a whiteboard and marker – and then allow the OpenIllusionist to interpret what you have drawn and present feedback. The framework relies on OpenGL to render all elements and agents within an OpenIllusionist based application.

The OpenIllusionist isn’t a single application – it is a framework through which applications can be more easily created. We will also be providing example applications, and finished products over the coming months, along with basic developer documentation. We’ve recently completed a new release of the framework and are currently working on both documentation and some example illusions for you to play with. On top of that, we’re keen to provide you with as much information as we can about the concepts behind the Illusionist Framework. Please mail us with questions or post them on the forum – we’ll do our best to answer them all as this site expands.

OpenIllusionist v1.4.2 is now available via Subversion (module “openillusionist_1.x”).

A package of version 1.4.1 is available from the downloads section.

We now have a to do list showing our plans which should lead to OpenIllusionist v2.