LINK2U: An augmented social network on mobile devices

Nowadays, modern mobile devices are becoming true personal computer that allow us to exploit new typologies of applications by combining several technologies such as camera, GPS, 3D graphics and permanent Internet connection. The resulting integration of such technologies allows to run complex applications, such as augmented reality and Social Networks. The goal of our present research is to support users’ daily activities, by developing advanced solutions which take into account principles of human-computer interaction and usability. In this paper we propose to join the suitability of mobile devices and augmented reality techniques to create an advanced social network. Besides common functions, it combines the potential of the augmented reality with the ability to “communicate” of the social network. In fact, each community user may exploit advanced location based services, such as navigation through a two dimensional map, exploration of an area through a camera mode, and identification of points of interest embedded in an augmented reality.