In the spirit of Iceland’s cherished Jólabókaflóðið (Christmas Book Flood) tradition, I embarked on creating something special for my dad this Christmas – a whimsical “field guide” studying the curious creature I fondly call “Pops.”
The Concept
Imagine David Attenborough narrating a nature documentary, but instead of following a rare bird or elusive big cat, he’s studying… my dad. That’s essentially what “Pops: A Field Guide” is – a scientific-style observation of my father’s natural habits, behavioral patterns, and comical fear of cute dogs, all written with love and humor.
The Technology
What made this book truly exciting for me to create is its augmented reality (AR) feature. Certain photos throughout the book serve as AR markers – when viewed through a phone or tablet, they spring to life as videos. Making it work is as simple as scanning a QR code in the book and opening up the webpage.
[Code Repository: GitLab Link]
The AR implementation uses:
- AR.js for marker-based augmented reality
- A-Frame for 3D scene rendering
- Web-based delivery (no app required!)
The Creation Process
Writing and Design
Using Canva’s book creation tools, I crafted each page to mimic traditional nature field guides, complete with:
- “Scientific” observations
- Habitat studies
- Behavioral patterns
- Timeline Analysis
All written with a blend of factual family history and playful scientific parody.
Audio Narration
To complete the nature documentary feel, I created an audiobook version narrated in a style reminiscent of Sir David Attenborough. This added an extra layer of authenticity to the “scientific” observations. Here is a clip:
Technical Implementation
The AR features were implemented using marker-based tracking, allowing videos to appear when specific photos are scanned. The entire system runs in a web browser, making it accessible without any special software installation.
The Jólabókaflóðið Connection
The Icelandic tradition of Jólabókaflóðið, where books are exchanged on Christmas Eve, provided the perfect occasion for this gift. This tradition, which translates to “Christmas Book Flood,” celebrates the joy of reading and sharing stories during the holiday season.
The Result
The final product is a multi-layered experience:
- A physical book filled with photos and humorous observations
- An AR experience bringing memories to life through video
- An audiobook adding another dimension of entertainment
- A celebration of family, technology, and tradition
Technical Details
For those interested in creating similar AR-enhanced books, the technical implementation is available on GitLab. The system uses:
- Pattern-based markers for video triggering
- Web-based AR for universal accessibility
- Responsive design for various devices
- Audio on/off functionality
- Cross-platform compatibility
Creating Your Own
Interested in making something similar? The basic steps are:
- Design your book (I used Canva)
- Generate AR markers for your chosen images (link in the gitlab README doc)
- Set up the web-based AR viewer on a server (local or on the net)
- Test thoroughly across devices
- Print and share!
Conclusion
“Pops: A Field Guide” represents more than just a clever use of technology – it’s a celebration of family, humor, and the joy of giving. By combining traditional bookmaking with modern AR technology, it creates a unique way to preserve and share family memories.
