Augmented Reality screenshot from Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1

I am pleased to announce that our SightSpace 3D mobile application for Google SketchUp, the Google 3D Warehouse, and Google Earth is now available for download on the Android Market! SightSpace 3D is a powerful tool to virtually explore digital spaces created in Google SketchUp, the Google 3D Warehouse, or from Google Earth with Augmented Reality (in .KMZ format). Display buildings, products, designs and more – annotate, bookmark views, take screenshots, and share notes and photos. SightSpace 3D on Android devices (2.2+) introduces Stereoscopic 3D Augmented Reality. Users can fully immerse themselves into a digital world with the use of red/cyan stereoscopic 3D when viewing models in viewer or Augmented Reality mode.

3D Stereo Augmented Reality screenshot from HTC Evo. Red/Cyan.

The Android version of SightSpace 3D is powered by our updated custom 3D Augmented Reality technology, vyzAR. vyzAR supports large, detailed models with high polygon counts for increased realism and detail.

SightSpace 3D is also available for download on the iTunes App Store for Apple devices.

Any questions or comments? Email us at SightSpace@LimitlessComputing.com, call us at 877.663.3797, or visit our support page.

UCSF model courtesy of Hilliard Architects, San Francisco, CA.

• Improved compatibility with iOS 5.0.1
• Improved support for .KMZ files from GIS (Geographic Information System) programs
• Improved opening from Dropbox and Google 3D Warehouse
• Minor bug fixes
• Reminder that Limitless offers free support for SightSpace 3D

Any questions or comments? Email us at SightSpace@LimitlessComputing.com, call us at 877.663.3797, or visit our support page. You can also check out our tutorial videos on Youtube.

We are now sending out invitations for beta testing of our mobile app, SightSpace 3D Google SketchUp viewer, for Android! If you are interested in being a beta tester, read on.

About SightSpace 3D for Android (Beta)

SightSpace 3D is a Google SketchUp viewer (it reads .KMZ files from Google SketchUp, the Google 3D Warehouse, and some .KMZ files from Google Earth). If your Android device has the correct hardware, it will also enable Augmented Reality so you can view your model in the real world through your device’s camera (you can watch it in action here and here on the Apple iPad 2 here).

How it works

There are a lot of Android phones and tablets and we want to reach as many users as possible! We are targeting devices running Android 2.2 and above.

It is a time commitment to test out new software and there will probably be some bugs, but this is your chance to give us direct feedback before the app goes live in the Android Market. We have also included a few new features that we would love to hear your opinion on!

If you want to be part of the beta, email the following information about your Android devices to beta@LimitlessComputing.com:

1) Phone or tablet
2) Brand (e.g. Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, HTC Evo, etc.)
3) Cell phone carrier, if applicable (e.g. Sprint, AT&T, etc.)
4) Android version, if known (e.g. Honeycomb 3.0, etc.)

You are not limited to one device, so if you have a phone and tablet, please include the details for both (or more).

We will send you an invitation with further instructions.

Note: This invitation is open to international Google SketchUp users, not just from the United States.

If you have any questions, give us a call at 877.663.3797 (or +1.303.448.8881).

Getting Started With AR

1. To get started, make your model SightSpace and AR ready. It ideally should be geolocated in Google SketchUp. This can be done by File->Geolocation->Add Location (or see instructions from one of the guys at SketchUp)
2. Second, export the file to .KMZ (File -> Export -> 3D) and place it onto your device using a method of your choice. SightSpace can read .KMZ files from your device, Dropbox, or email (instructions on using Dropbox and email).

Because SightSpace is using a custom 3D and AR engine, it can load large models and is limited only by the memory of your device. This is only true if that memory is not being consumed by your other running apps. To get the best AR experience, it is best if your close other running apps.

AR in Action
This is my model, courtesy of Hilliard Architects, San Francisco, CA, of an apartment complex (screenshots from my iPad 2):

I used SightSpace 3D to turn this empty field:

Into a site with an apartment building.

AR is a stunning technology because with a geolocated model and a geolocated device, I can walk around the apartment building:

And walk inside and look around:

Look out the windows and see the view outside:

And because my model is interacting with the real world, in real time, SightSpace also sees people:

There are a lot of great ways you can use the technology and currently SightSpace is being used in multiple industries including construction, architecture, interior design, oil and gas, landscape, and more*.   However, you may run into some glitches with this technology and I want to help you with any problems you can encounter (also check out our support page.)

• Accuracy. First, Apple devices vary in the accuracy of their GPS. Wifi only devices are less accurate then cellular devices. What this means is that your model may not be exactly where you expect it to be. Which can lead to…
• Where’s my model? You are expecting your model to be in front of you and it’s behind you, for example. This is an accuracy problem. The easiest solution is to go into the MAPS app included on every device and wait until it has you in the correct location.

• Model Jump. Sometimes the model will appear to jump or quickly switch locations. This is your GPS updating your location. If you are unhappy with the changes, click on the Disable GPS button in AR mode (upper left corner). However, your location will no longer update. If you move, the model will not automatically update its location.

• Model Drift. Your model is fine and then it seems to be marching off the screen. Some devices are worse than others. To fix this requires an app restart.
• Memory Messages. AR is a memory intensive process. If you run out of memory, close other apps that are running on your device and restart SightSpace.

AR without Geolocation
AR works automatically because both your model and your device are geolocated. It will also work if this is not the case, but with some slight differences. For example, if you want to download models from the Google 3D Warehouse that are geolocated to somewhere far away and view them. SightSpace will prompt you to tap on the model to select a starting point and then superimpose the model over the live camera view.

Want to superimpose the Roman Coliseum over your classroom? SightSpace will do it. I placed an entire apartment complex on my desk:

You still move the device to change the view in real time and can also resize the model with pinch-zoom and can move it manually by panning.
Augmented Reality is a great way to visualize how your model will appear, in 3D, in a given locale. I hope this introduction has given you some useful tips for moving forward with this great new mobile technology. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at SightSpace@LimitlessComputing.com or 877.663.3797.

*Augmented Reality is only available on iPad 2, iPhone 4 and 4S. If you do not have one of these devices, then SightSpace is a great mobile viewer and can overlay your model on a photo you take.

**Our users email us great user stories at SightSpace@LimitlessComputing.com – if you have a great way you are using SightSpace, we would love to hear from you too!

SightSpace 3D available now on the iTunes App Store.

What’s New

• Compatibility with devices running the newest iOS 5
• The addition of an in-app help guide to answer the most common questions
• Improved handling of Saved Views as Bookmarks
• Convenient reload of last opened model – SightSpace will remember the last model when the app was closed and reload it upon opening
• Some minor bug fixes and continued memory improvement

Any questions or comments? Email us at SightSpace@LimitlessComputing.com, call us at 877.663.3797, or visit our support page. You can also check out our tutorial videos on Youtube.

SightSpace 3D is a mobile viewer for Google SketchUp files that is available on iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch.  One of its best features, however, is Augmented Reality mode where users can overlay their geo-located digital SketchUp files onto the physical world.  The possibilities for this app are endless and include previewing construction, education, and interior design.  Due to the popularity of the Augmented Reality feature, we wanted to incorporate other 3D modeling programs into our mobile SightSpace app so they could also experience AR. The first workflow I will be discussing is from ArchiCAD. I used ArchiCAD 15 and Google SketchUp 8, but this should work on other versions.

Here is the process:

1. Download the Google Earth Connections Package which has a plugin to export your model directly to .skp, the Google SketchUp file format (download the plugin from Graphisoft here; if you are on an earlier version of ArchiCAD, the Google plugin is available here for Archicad 11-14 )
2. Save your ArchiCAD 3D view as .skp, the SketchUp file format.  ArchiCAD will convert the file. If your model is complex, this process can take quite a while.
3. Open in Google SketchUp.  SketchUp 8 is a free download
4. Check geolocatation. Augmented Reality works automatically because your device and model are geolocated. To geolocate in SketchUp, select File -> Geolocation -> Add Location. Type in the locale, adjust the size of the region, and click Grab.  Make sure your model is placed correctly on top of the image.  (Here are some great instructions from one of the SketchUp guys)
5. Export your SketchUp file to .kmz by selecting File -> Export -> 3D Model.

The file is now SightSpace mobile app ready and can be placed onto your device via iTunes, Dropbox, or email. Because your model and your Apple device are both geolocated, when you go into AR mode, your model will appear superimposed on the landscape. Move your device and the view will change in real-time.  If you are not geolocated, then the device will prompt you to tap a point on the screen and then take you into AR mode. One final note: to load the largest models possible, make sure you close all other apps running on your device.

You can watch my tutorial to see the process in action.

Any questions or comments about the process? Email us at SightSpace@LimitlessComputing.com, call at 877.663.3797, or visit our support page.

• Improved navigation of interior spaces in the SketchUp viewer

• Saved views in Google SketchUp .kmz load as Bookmarks. This makes for fast and easy retrieval of your favorite views.

• Limited support for loading Google Earth .kmz geometry: points, linestrings, polygons without holes. SightSpace does NOT load links, metadata, references to external files, etc.

• We continue to improved our 3D engine for the best viewing experience on mobile devices.

• Added Settings to configure various model loading options for tuning performance and memory usage. These options include the following:

• o Turning lines in models on/off – enables loading of larger models

  o Choose to display hidden geometry – this option is best used in conjunction with Google Earth .kmz files

  o A slider to choose between better performance and better model quality

  o Memory messages – when your device is about to run out of available memory, a memory message will be displayed
  and SightSpace 3D will close to keep from crashing. Turning off Memory Messages will allow you to load the largest models possible but may also cause app crashes because this protection is now turned off.

Lastly, answers to commonly asked questions are on our support page along with tips for loading large models and getting the best augmented reality experience.

Suggestions for future enhancements? Email us at SightSpace@LimitlessComputing.com or call us at 877.663.3797.

1. File Size

The number one support request is “model will not load.” The number one reason? All of the device memory is being consumed by numerous running Apps.  When SightSpace cannot access any memory, it cannot load your model. How do you know how many apps are running? Double tap the Home key. To close the apps,  hold app icon until minus appears, and tap the minus to close. Closing down apps will free up memory for SightSpace to utilize.

The model size that SightSpace can load is only limited by your device (e.g. iPad 2 will have more RAM type of memory than an iPad 1, etc). If you are loading a small model and it is failing, check your running apps or reboot. SightSpace uses memory very efficiently.  During development we said memory was like water on Arrakis.

Lastly, file sizes vary widely and cannot be measured in pure megabytes. A 1 MG file can be more “complex” than a 10 MG file due to geometric complexity and texture.  Yes, it may be necessary to decrease one of these dimensions of complexity to make your file mobile.

If you still have problems, your fellow SketchUp users have sent us their files and we have got them up and running. You can do that too:  support@LimitlessComputing.com

2. Android

The Android version of SightSpace 3D is currently under development. Sign up to be notified when it goes live in the Android Market.

3. Presentations

Yes, SightSpace will display through the VGA adapter provided by Apple on iPad 2.

4. Loading Files

At this time, SightSpace loads only .KMZ files from SketchUp.  I am working on a workflow video for some other formats, so stay tuned.

5. Requests

Yes, we do take feature requests. Yes, we are real people.

6. Universal App

Sightspace is a universal app, meaning you buy it once and can install it on all the devices you own associated with your iTunes account.

More questions? Contact us at 877.663.3797 or at support@LimitlessComputing.com

SightSpace 3D is available now on the iTunes App Store for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch.

I am pleased to announce we will be exhibiting products for Autodesk Revit® Architecture® and Google Sketchup™ at the AIA National Convention in New Orleans, LA, May 12-14.

Stop by booth #3509 in the Software Pavilion to try out one of our Revit Architecture cloud products:

• CloudRender™ for Autodesk Revit Architecture 2011 & 2012: The CloudRender add-in allows one-click rendering to the cloud directly from Revit while enabling simultaneous modeling. Scenes render faster with top quality to meet your tight deadlines. Using the cloud means workstations are free for other projects. Download the add-in.

• Limitless Rendering™ for Autodesk Revit Architecture 2009-2012: This online service utilizes high performance computers on the cloud to render both Revit scenes and many walkthroughs in only 24 hours.

Or preview our newest mobile application:

• SightSpace™ 3D for Google Sketchup: This Augmented Reality app for the iPad® 2 not only views Google Sketchup files but allows you to see SketchUp models superimposed over the landscape in real-time. With SightSpace 3D, you can view models in the real world prior to construction.

If you can’t make it to New Orleans, visit us at www.LimitlessComputing.com or call us at 877.663.3797.

For more information, contact us at 877.663.3797 or visit us at www.LimitlessComputing.com.