(PhysOrg.com) -- GPS may no longer have to be about following audio directions only, and looking at maps on your screen. Wikitude Drive for Android offers an augmented reality feature that lets you actually see the road ahead.
It represents the first turn by turn navigation app making use of augmented reality. It only works on Android phones with at least an OS version 1.6. CNET reports on how the application works:
The app utilizes the phone's camera and GPS receiver in tandem, layering the selected route over a live view of what's ahead of the car. Sort of like Google Maps' Street View, but in real time.
Since Android can run more than one app at a time, one hopes that you can still use voice activation (if you have it) to receive and make phone calls, even though you are using the navigation app. It might kind of distracting, though, and it is important to remember that you should actually be watching the road, and not driving from the information you see on your smartphone screen.
The app was in beta testing, but the test has ended, so it might be a little while before you actually get to use it.
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More information: Wikitude - www.wikitude.org/
