GADGETS + TECH
THE TECHNINJA
Is this the real life or is this just fantasy?
IMAGES OF PASTY INDIVIDUALS, TRAPPED BEHIND DRAWN CURTAINS IN THEIR HOUSES, PLAYING FIFA OR WORLD OF WARCRAFT FOR HOURS ON END, ARE TO MANY THE STEREOTYPICAL IDEA OF EVERYTHING THAT IS WRONG WITH THE WORLD. BUT THANKS TO THE WONDERS OF AUGMENTED REALITY, AND SOME NEAT LITTLE APPS, IT IS POSSIBLE TO GET OUT THERE INTO THE REAL WORLD, AND EVEN DISCOVER MORE ABOUT SOME OF THE FASCINATING PLACES THAT KENT HAS TO OFFER! HERE ARE TWO APPS THAT THE TECHNINJA THINKS ARE WORTH PLAYING WITH.
GEOCACHING
In May 2000, inspired by the developments in satellite GPS, Dave Ulmer, a US computer enthusiast had an idea: Why not hide a container containing some‘ stuff’ out in the woods and note the coordinates with a GPS unit? Other people could look for the container, whilst adhering to the simple, but fun rules,‘ Take some stuff, but leave some stuff’.
Seventeen years later and geocaching( as it became known) has become a pastime enjoyed, not just by the geekiest of geeks, but by all sorts of people, all over the world. The addition of a website( geocaching. com) and of course, an app( available on iTunes and Google Stores) makes geocaching fun for all the family, and it is something my kids and I have enjoyed doing on many occasions.
Using your mobile device, you can plot your geocaching adventure, find where the container is stored, and then it suddenly becomes very actual-reality, as you rummage around looking for a small container full of hidden treasures. Often there is a pen and paper to record your visit( which you can also do online) as well as a haul of shiny things for you to select a momento from – but do remember to follow etiquette, and leave something in return!
The TechNinja recommends you download the official app from Groundspeak. It’ s free, with the option to purchase premium membership which unlocks extra features useful for finding those pesky caches. You can get the app for Apple or Android phones.
You can find out more about geocaching at the official website: www. geocaching. com and you can download the app using your usual smartphone app download store.
INGRESS
Pokemon Go didn ' t really appeal to me. Mainly because when it comes to annoying, Pikachu is, quite frankly, right up there with Jar Jar Binks, and that shouty man from the double glazing adverts. Thankfully before there was Pokemon Go, there was a far better augmented reality game called Ingress.
Ingress is a futuristic, incredibly detailed game which is played all over the world, and involves two global teams – The Enlightened and The Resistance( you get to choose which side you want to fight for) capturing‘ portals’. These portals usually reside on significant buildings and landmarks, which means whilst playing Ingress, you get to learn an awful lot about your surroundings.
For example, I have lived in or near Folkestone in Kent all my life, but it wasn ' t until a month or two ago that I discovered a door with a plaque above it, marking it as the actual birthplace of William Harvey, one of the most famous physicians who ever lived and the discoverer of the circulatory system – and all because I was trying to hack an Ingress portal!
The best description I can give of Ingress, is that it is a mixture of geocaching, capture the flag, and the game of Reversi, with a whole bunch of clever gameplay, sci-fi references and fancy graphics thrown in for good measure. It is tremendous fun, and very sociable, with lots of sites and social media groups dedicated to it, as well as the opportunity to team up with other players and even to attend official meet-ups and events all over the world. And exercise is positively encouraged – the distance you cover counts towards progress, and whilst it is possible to play Ingress in a car, some features are disabled if the game detects you are moving faster than running pace!
Ingress is a free-to-play game, but be warned, it does consume data and battery life significantly, so be sure to switch it off when you ' re not playing! Find out all about it at www. ingress. com or go to the apps download store on your smartphone.
The TechNinja | www. thetechninja. co. uk
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