Last week we announced Layar Stream, revealing immediately what Augmented Reality (AR) content is available around you.

Layar Stream generates a stream out of the 1.2 million augmented objects served daily by Layar. The ranking is based on a proprietary algorithm using contextual elements like location, usage and popularity of content in all published layers. Layar Stream holds information about the type of available content and whether it contains 3D objects, images, video or audio. Users can optimize their stream by filtering on keywords, categories and distance.

The implementation of Layar Stream will have a huge impact on the discoverability and re-usage of your layer(s). Layar Stream ensures a higher visibility within our browser and drives traffic to your augmented reality content.

>> Index your layer right now!

Your layer(s) can be indexed on three levels.

1. Allow Layar to cache all POIs of this layer*.(Recommended)
The POIs of this layer will be visible for end-users in Layar Stream
2. Allow Layar to cache only the title and position of the POIs of this layer.
Only the title and postions of the POIs of this layer will be visible for end-users in Layar Stream
3. Don’t allow Layar to cache the POIs of this layer.
The POIs of this layer won’t be visible for end-users in Layar Stream

Next to these options you have the possibility to add an expiration date, if the layer expires after a certain date (e.g. after the World Championship Football) and the live time of the POI within your layer so you can indicate if your layer is static, dynamic or higly dynamic. How to index and optimize your layer for Layar Stream can be found here.

You can also opt-out on a POI level. This is for example useful in a game, where you don’t want your clues to be indexed and would include only the starting point of the game in Layar Stream. For these cases we added “doNotIndex” respons to our GetPOI API. Check it here.

Visit our wiki to learn more about:

• Your publisher account


• Index your layer
  


• GetPOI API

The Layar of this week is ‘The Ocean is in your Hand’ by Norman Chee. Norman is a student from Malaysia and experimented with Layar for his final project. Not only did he create his first layer with cool 3D objects, he also has a goal that makes the layer special: to create awareness for the threatened marine life in our oceans, supporting the World Wildlife Fund.

In the layer, you can find 3D animals that live underwater. By clicking on them, you can read more about their life and threat of extinction through the WWF website. To spread the awareness, you can take screenshots of the ocean creatures and forward them to others. We got in touch with Norman to tell us more about this project.

How do you create awareness with your layer? Norman: “My layer lets you learn more about endangered marine life. There are two meanings behind the title of my layer. One is that the you can explore the ocean for endangered marine life through the mobile phone in your hand, and the other is that the future of ocean life depends on us.” What can we do with your layer? Norman: “You’re able to explore and find endangered marine life such as sharks, turtles, corals and fish in certain areas. First of all, you open the layer and look for these endangered species. By finding them you can see what the creatures look like in 3D. You can learn more about that species from a link attached that connects to the WWF website.”

Any other thoughts, ideas or things you’d like to share?
Norman: “There are many possibilities that can be achieved through layar. Because I am a designer with very little knowledge on the programming part, the things that I am able to do are limited. I would like to thank Hoppala! for helping me create this layer.
I am looking forward to the growth of layar and more things to be done with it, such as animated 3Ds. And of course, I hope that my project has raised and will continue to raise much awareness about the ocean.”

So far, ‘The Ocean is in your hand’ is only available in Malaysia, since Norman started his project on a small scale. The layer has more possibilities to spread on a larger scale. Keep an eye on Norman’s blog, where you can find the progress of his project and more about the layer.

All other new layers can be found in the Catalog.