With the amount of Augmented Reality work being created (or at least promoted) at the moment, I thought it might be worth while posting up what I think are the Top 10 Augmented Reality Examples, that showcase the depth of what Augmented Reality has to offer us to date.

To do this, I’m looking at a mix of promotional ideas, competitions, real world application, mobile, campaigns, virals and experiences. The Augmented Reality Examples I’ve chosen are hand picked across that various mix to showcase where Augmented Reality is heading into the future, and how it can be used today. Click here to view the Top 10 Augmented Reality Examples.

Personally I think the future of Augmented Reality will live in the mobile space, that’s where it will play it’s most useful role in helping deliver relevant content in a contextual environment. But the use of Augmented Reality activation online mixed with all the various DM, viral, packaging, experience and shopping executions will keep it well balanced from a consumption point of view.

Layar Browser
Augmented Reality Browser Example where you can select multiple layers of content to place into your Augmented Reality Browser allowing you to automatically find detailed content based off what your pointing your phone at. If you find what you need, you can click to get more information on almost anything.

Stella Artois Le Bar Guide
Augmented Reality iPhone App that blends real world places with direction & interaction. It mixes a great balance of promotion, real live application and useful features into one branded iPhone app.

GE: The Smart Grid
Augmented Reality Example that featured on the front cover of Popular Science magazine in early 2009 and is probably responsible for sparking the big push from brands and agencies into Augmented Reality last year. Still probably utilising the best technology out there.

WikiTude 4.0
A mobile based Augmented Reality Example that allows you to overlay many dynamic content sources into an augmented reality view through your phones camera video. It’s a great real world application where you can automatically display information based on what your pointing at.

Matel: Avatar Toys
Augmented Reality Toy Example that got some serious hype with the launch of Avatar. I think this is a great example of Augmented Reality can be used gifted with products or as a product themselves, and as the technology becomes more advanced, we’ll be able to have toys like this interact in a very “game like” way making them even more appealing.

We Are Autobots
Augmented Reality Promo Example in the lead up to the latest Transformers movie. It was the first good example I’ve seen where facial tracking technology has been mixed with Augmented Reality to create an enhanced experience!

Rayban Virtual Mirror
Augmented Reality Example that allows you to try on the entire range of Rayban glasses from your very own computer. Again, it works in some facial recognition where you map key points of your face, the app then utilises these as the directional markers to track the glasses nicely against your face! I think we will see a lot more of this in 2010 combined with the e-comm rush!

Eminem Creative Competition
Augmented Reality Competition Example that tasked people with painting a 3D version of the Eminem logo. It’s a great example of how you can combine AR with a high level of interactivity while keeping the entire app usable. It even allowed you to save out your final masterpiece and submit it directly into a creative competition to be judged. Very Cool.

Acrossair Augmented Reality Browser
Similar to Wikitude, this Augmented Reality Example provides a platform to layer content from multiple sources like Yelp, Google, Wikipedia, Yellow Pages .etc directly over your camera view while integrating distance and directional instruction where required.

AR Business Cards
This Augmented Reality Business Card Example showcases a pretty cool new way people will be looking to present themselves on their cards over the coming years, this particular example is a little “arty” but expect to see more and more of this, and hopefully taking over from the boring QR Codes people are placing on business cards at the moment.

Adidas Originals Shoe AR
This Augmented Reality Shoe Example was the most hyped Augmented Reality app ever in the 2 months of teasers to launch date. So far, it probably provides one of the most detailed AR models while combining a lot of functionality and interactivity into the app. However, the downside is it’s so detailed, the the AR app seems to be a little slow (chugs) in the gaming area.

BMW Z4 AR
This Augmented Reality Example was one of the first to allow you to take an AR model in your hands, place it on your desktop and then control the car from the keyboard and webcam while you drive it around your desk! The AR app also allowed you to save out the graphic you created and share with your friends on facebook & twitter.

Ok, so that was more than just The Top 10 Augmented Reality Examples, and I’ll probably keep adding them to this post as the “best of” collection grows, so if you think I’ve missed something, recommend I add a better example or want to showcase your latest AR work, just comment below and leave a link to your video on YouTube or Vimeo!

This post won’t become a dumping ground of the “724 Coolest Augmented Reality Examples” so lets keep the comments to the cutting edge and best of the best if possible! Start submitting!

Related Digital Buzz Posts:

1. Augmented Reality City 3D (Glasses Required!)
2. Times Square Augmented Reality Billboard
3. Augmented Reality 2.0 Future Of Interactivity
4. Nissan 370Z Augmented Reality Website (AR)
5. Adidas Augmented Reality Shoes Campaign