Victorian bakehouse Ferguson Plarre has added an extra dimension to its birthday cakes with the launch of an augmented reality (AR) app funded by a $50,000 government grant.
The innovative Cakes Alive! app uses AR technology and specialised images forming part of the cake decorations to make birthday cakes come to life.
For instance, when viewed and photographed through mobile devices, 3D animations including exploding fireworks and flying wizards bursting out of the icing.
Ferguson Plarre combined image recognition and edible image technology to develop the app. It is equipped with an in-app camera that allows users to take photos of family and friends with the animations and then share them via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and email.
The company's CEO, Steve Plarre, described it as an exciting development for both the bakehouse and for birthdays.
“Ferguson Plarre has been helping celebrate birthdays for over 110 years and as a traditional company we are thrilled to be embracing innovation and new technology to make birthday cakes even more unreal,” he said.
“We hope our Cakes Alive! app will bring some extra magic to kids birthday parties, with everyone enjoying the animations, capturing special moments and creating fantastic memories that will last forever.”
The development of Cakes Alive! was funded with a $50,000 grant from the Victorian Government’s Technology Voucher Program.
Minister for Manufacturing, David Hodgett, said, “Generating stronger business growth is what the Coalition Government’s Manufacturing Strategy is all about, and I am pleased Fergusson Plarre has been able to expand and benefit from a key component of this.”
Cakes Alive! is now available for free download from the App Store and Google Play.
