SpinTales from TILT Textiles is an augmented reality system tied to decor objects for a child’s bedroom. Available now are the Enchanted Duvet with fairy-tale scenes and Jungle Rug with animal habitat. Point at either with the camera of a mobile device and the screen will show moving and interactive characters appropriate to the setting. Games are also possible. There’s one that has children searching for specific images and another that’ll have them performing Yoga with the on-screen characters.

Another approach to decor games, still under development by Hillarys are board game carpets. These will have embedded LEDs to illustrate game boards and pieces. The idea is that they’ll not just be controlled by a local mobile app but also be networked so friends can play against each other on the floor remotely. At least that’s the concept.

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TaleBlazer is a software platform for the development of alternate reality games at museums, zoos, nature centers, living-history sites, and other educational institutions. Created by MIT’s Scheller Teacher Education Program, TaleBlazer allows such organizations to develop sophisticated location-based games using a simple browser-based scripting system.

TaleBlazer games can run on either iOS or Android devices and allow visitors to interact with virtual characters and objects triggered by their real-world locations.

At the Columbus Zoo, for example, one game has players acting as journalists studying global climate change, while with another players take on the role of detectives investigating a crime involving illegal wildlife trade.

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