Mr Detlef Pfeifer, Goethe-Institut Namibia, explaining
Augmented Reality Concept
The Goethe-Institut Namibia, in
collaboration with Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST),
University of Namibia (UNAM) and University of Applied Sciences known as Hochschule
für Technik und Wirtschaft (HTW) in Berlin, hosted a project on coding at
the beginning of May this year to create Smartphone Augmented Reality (AR) Apps
that will bring five Namibian books to life.
Namibian Magic by Corrin-Del Klopper
One of the books selected for this project
was a publication of Namibia Publishing House Namibian Magic by Corrin-Del
Klopper. Students from the above-mentioned institutions worked very hard
to create augmented realities for a Smartphones App that can be used to enhance
the reading culture and experience of books written for Namibian children.
A team students working on Namibian Magic
Augmented Reality is created through images
and animations that are regarded as extensions of the book. Using
Augmented Reality is as simple as downloading the app from the App Store for
Apple users or Google Play Store for Androids. The user has to start the app by
scanning through pages of the book to activate the interactive and digital
content on the Smartphone. The app is developed in four languages namely:
Oshiwambo, English, Khoekhoegowab and German, therefore the user can activate
the language that they are more comfortable to use. As the Head of Library and
Information at Goethe-Institut Namibia, Mr Detlef Pfeifer, said, the project
does not only promote a reading culture and preserve the use of books among the
Namibian children, it also gives young coders the opportunity to gain
experience. He further explained, “This coding week will challenge our students,
not just in terms of time, but creating the ideal interface for a user to
effectively engage with the digital content and experience the Augmented
Reality App with pleasure.”
Five groups consisting of 24 Information
and Communication Technology students from NUST (12), HTW Berlin (6), and 12
language students from UNAM competed from 29 April to 03 May 2019 to produce
augmented reality books in Namibia. The best three Apps for the project will be
presented by one of the members from each group at the International Conference
on Culture and Computer Science in Berlin.
The young coders from NUST, UNAM and HTW Berlin participating in the project
NPH is proud to be part of this innovative
project as applying the concept of augmented reality to books, in particular
children’s books, makes reading more interactive and relevant to the minds of
the children and will encourage them to read more.
 |
Mr Detlef Pfeifer, Goethe-Institut Namibia, explaining
Augmented Reality Concept |
The Goethe-Institut Namibia, in
collaboration with Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST),
University of Namibia (UNAM) and University of Applied Sciences known as Hochschule
für Technik und Wirtschaft (HTW) in Berlin, hosted a project on coding at
the beginning of May this year to create Smartphone Augmented Reality (AR) Apps
that will bring five Namibian books to life.
 |
| Namibian Magic by Corrin-Del Klopper |
One of the books selected for this project
was a publication of Namibia Publishing House Namibian Magic by Corrin-Del
Klopper. Students from the above-mentioned institutions worked very hard
to create augmented realities for a Smartphones App that can be used to enhance
the reading culture and experience of books written for Namibian children.
 |
| A team students working on Namibian Magic |
Augmented Reality is created through images
and animations that are regarded as extensions of the book. Using
Augmented Reality is as simple as downloading the app from the App Store for
Apple users or Google Play Store for Androids. The user has to start the app by
scanning through pages of the book to activate the interactive and digital
content on the Smartphone. The app is developed in four languages namely:
Oshiwambo, English, Khoekhoegowab and German, therefore the user can activate
the language that they are more comfortable to use. As the Head of Library and
Information at Goethe-Institut Namibia, Mr Detlef Pfeifer, said, the project
does not only promote a reading culture and preserve the use of books among the
Namibian children, it also gives young coders the opportunity to gain
experience. He further explained, “This coding week will challenge our students,
not just in terms of time, but creating the ideal interface for a user to
effectively engage with the digital content and experience the Augmented
Reality App with pleasure.”
Five groups consisting of 24 Information
and Communication Technology students from NUST (12), HTW Berlin (6), and 12
language students from UNAM competed from 29 April to 03 May 2019 to produce
augmented reality books in Namibia. The best three Apps for the project will be
presented by one of the members from each group at the International Conference
on Culture and Computer Science in Berlin.
 |
| The young coders from NUST, UNAM and HTW Berlin participating in the project |
NPH is proud to be part of this innovative
project as applying the concept of augmented reality to books, in particular
children’s books, makes reading more interactive and relevant to the minds of
the children and will encourage them to read more.
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