Posted
at 3:13 pm, October 15, 2009
in As of yesterday evening, the augmented reality browser Layar is now available for the iPhone 3GS.
This application includes Ireland's first property search layer, powered by the listings on Daft.ie. This means that Irish iPhone users can now search through the widest selection of properties for sale, to rent or to share anywhere in Ireland direct from their phone.
What is Augmented Reality?
Daft Property Search Layer
Augmented reality is the term given to the overlaying of data on top of your phone's camera view. So, for example, you could point your phone at a house which is for sale on Daft and immediately see the price, photographs of the interior, and the contact details of the owner.
Aside from property search, there are a number of other interesting uses for this technology - there are layers available in various countries showing everything from nearby restaurants, ATMs, post boxes and even nearby twitter users!
Layar have been at the forefront of this new technology since releasing the Layar app to the Android marketplace in August this year. We at Daft were selected as one of the pre-launch development partners for this system, and have been actively developing on it over recent months.
How does the Daft layer work?
Property Detail
The Daft.ie Property Search layer allows you to view sale, rental or shared property near to your current location. As you pan your phone around you, nearby property is indicated by blue dots on the screen. The bigger the dot, the nearer the property!
If you're tired of your daily commute, you can fire up the Daft layer while you're in work, tell it that you want to live within 5km of the building and you will see all of the properties currently available nearby!
The dot nearest the centre of the screen will also show you an image of the property, and brief summary information, including:
- Property address
- Rent/price of the property
- Property type summary, e.g. "2 bed apartment"
"Take me there" feature
Once you've found a property you're interested in, pressing the image on-screen will allow you to:
- View More Information: see the available photographs and read the description of the property
- Phone Advertiser: with one press of a button, you can use your phone to directly contact the advertiser
- Take me there: get directions to the property from your current location, powered by Google Maps
All sale, rental and shared properties listed on Daft.ie will automatically be available via the Layar application as soon as they go live on the site.
How do I get Layar?
The Layar app is free to download. You can get it for your iPhone 3GS from the App Store, or if you have an Android phone, via the Android Marketplace.
Once you've downloaded the application, you can find the Daft layer by searching for "property" or "daft".
Really really great work guys. Love to see Irish companies innovating like this
This a fantastic idea. One of things I love using on the 3GS for is the Sat Nav and now this takes it even further. I always thought estate agents signs were a redundant form of advertising, granted they make it easier to find a house you are coming to view, but to be able to stumble across a house you just happen to be passing and pull all the details, including photos, up on your phone is a brilliant idea. It is also great for nosy people like me who aren't even looking to buy house but will use it just to see what the inside of peoples' houses are like.
Might this be a handy tool in the hands of burglars too though? One potential downside I suppose.
Cheers,
Simon
[...] Daft.ie are getting into the Augmented Reality game with their listings. Saw their demo on an Android Phone. Very very very cool. [...]
WOW. That's just great. I just gotta agree with Damien :: Very very very cool.
Very nice lads, just tried it there, works well and very easy to get too, that and its free!!
Very cool indeed. We were only standing outside a house yesterday for sale wondering what the interior looked like.
This is just brilliant - I just tried it and it rocks. It would be brilliant for restaurants too ;0)
Great this. Love it. Should go down really well this.
Very nice guys! Good to see you keeping up with the forefront of technology.
Just tried it on Android, works brilliantly.
[...] – Snoop on local houseprices See details about houses around you for sale or rent with this Daft.ie Layar app. Whip out the iPhone and as you look through it via the camera then you can see notes, photos and [...]
[...] be used effectively. We have seen some great early examples of this sort of technology with apps like this one from Daft which features augmented reality but can you imagine the power of something like this form a [...]
Great stuff, this is very handy, since many people can search for properties on the move - well done!