Center Valley, Pa.
– Olympus said Tuesday that it has launched a new “augmented reality” tool to
give consumers a virtual demo of its Olympus Pen E-PL1 hybrid digital camera.
Olympus is running
the dynamic 3D online tool at its
, where visitors are invited to use their computer Web cams to act as a
virtual camera lens. The site is set up to simulate the features of the Pen
E-PL1, including shooting video, trying the flash and Live Guide, removing the
lens and using a variety of in-camera art filters.
In the demo users
manipulate a 3D camera marker in their hands.
Olympus is
inserting actual-size augmented reality tip-in cards shaped like the Olympus Pen
E-PL1 in the June print issue of Wired and the July print issue of Popular
Photography magazines.
Otherwise, the Web
site enables visitors to print a PDF of the camera card to engage in the
virtual demo.
By clicking on the
top dial of the virtual Pen visitors can capture still images and videos with
five of the E-PL1’s six in-camera art filters: Pop Art, Soft Focus, Pin Hole,
Grainy Film and Gentle Sepia.
Once footage has
been captured with the virtual Pen, visitors to the site can share stills with
friends, upload videos to YouTube, or post the entire Pen 3D site experience on
Twitter or Facebook.
The augmented-reality
Pen 3D is one of several digital experiences created by Mullen for Olympus.
Olympus said it is
investing in social-media advertising on YouTube and Facebook to expand its
social footprint and engage with consumers, utilizing video-distribution
networks such as SmartClip and YuMe and employing portals to leverage
behavioral targeting.
