Layar is a glimpse at the future of mobile computing

I really, really want to be Dutch right now. After taking a look at Layar, a mobile Augmented Reality browser that's currently only available in the Netherlands, I can't wait until similar technology is available in the rest of the world. Layar uses the camera and location-based services of your mobile device -- Android devices only, so far -- and overlays information on the camera image.

This is flying-car level tech, the kind of stuff that sci-fi nerds dream about, and it's got plenty of practical applications for the average user, too. Although Layar is still in its early stages, this is the technology that's going to make it possible to point your phone at a restaurant and see prices and reviews, or point it at a transit stop and see schedules. One the features Layar is pushing is the ability to create your own layers, so it could be used for everything from business to gaming. Every cool piece of tech has its downside, though, and I imagine advertisers are salivating a little bit about the possibilities something like Layar presents.

Tags: android, augmented-reality, future, layar, mobile