Reality keeps getting weirder--or at least augmented

Augmented reality is far from mainstream--but a couple of exhibitors at CES are working hard to change that.

                             

                                                                     Blippar's app brings content to life

Aurasma, which is part of HP's Autonomy business, showed off its 3D augmented reality app. And today I caught up with a London-based startup called Blippar, which is set up at CES' Eureka Park.

Blippar, which last week raised an undisclosed amount from Qualcomm Ventures, has been in technical development for a year and just launched in August. It has about 30 partners in the U.K, and is working hard to sign up more and break into the U.S.

"Content is the key," said Stephen Shaw, a business development manager with Blippar

It works like this: You load your smart phone or iPad with the Blippar app, then point the camera at the "B" that's on its partners' content and the magic begins. Labels for food display recipes, or coupons. Movies play. Magazines come to life.

Blippar is currently running a campaign with Nike and a British newspaper in which you point your phone's camera at the "Bs" beside the athletes and quick movies and other information appears. Shaw showed me one example where pointing the iPad at the content created an interactive game.

Here's a video demonstration Shaw did for me.

Blippar's mobile augmented reality app