Gravity Jack » Gravity Jack News

Gravity Jack Featured in Out There Monthly as Leader in Active Mobile Tech

Ryan — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:48:41 +0000

Grab a copy of the latest February edition of Out There Monthly, because yours truly got some love!

Big shout outs to the Inland Northwest’s guide to outdoor recreation!

In the article (you can read, by clicking the image, below) Jon Jonckers, addresses the growing trend of mobile technology assisting those submerging themselves in the great outdoors!

Gravity Jack received a head nod, as one of the leaders in innovation for active outdoor mobile technology, and our CEO, Luke Richey, addresses a few thoughts on the impact that augmented reality (AR) and mobile software can have. From GPS uses, to analyzing the best and safest route up a rockface, augmented reality is here to the rescue, and…of course, we love the media attention!

Check out the article, by clicking the image below:

Gravity Jack is at CES 2012…in Vegas, Baby!

Ryan — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 03:27:24 +0000

Jackpot! Start the scrolling marquees and cue the flashing lights because Gravity Jack is hitting Vegas, baby!

For the first time since Gravity Jack has decided to take over the world, we’re hitting the world famous CES conference in Las Vegas, NV.

While in Vegas, we’ll be meeting with some great people and further solidifying our plans of bringing augmented reality to the masses! Follow this blog post for all the latest photos and updates, below!

Don’t forget to Like our Facebook page and follow our Twitter page for updates!

Let the photo’s begin!

[The Gravity Jack CES 2012 team in Spokane, through the gate, and cleared for takeoff!]

[The team ready to hit CES in true Gravity Jack fashion.]

[CES 2012, Baby!]

[The CES 2012 chariot, for the Vegas Strip.]

[Aston Martin, baby! Boosh.]

Unlocking AR: Augmented Reality Business Cards & Marketing Materials!

Ryan — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 17:30:50 +0000

Check out this little bit of awesome.Business cards are almost as common as the pushy guy at the bar, trying to give you a copy of one. Unlike that guy, however, business cards and marketing materials are necessary. So, is it really possible to keep your professional networking relevant and effective, while also engaging and…frankly, blowing people’s minds, consistently?

We think yes, and it’s why we’re in the press again, today!

Introducing Gravity Jack augmented reality, done for YOU. We’ve always felt that augmented reality won’t truly take over, until real, practical applications are offered to the public in a way that matters to everyday life. That’s why we’ve announced today, just a week and a half after releasing our game-changer “browsAR,” that we’re offering all the chance to hop on the AR train.

Turn your business cards, marketing materials…really anything that is an image, in to a lean, mean, mind-blowing machine. Check it out:

Yes, that is a full-grown 3D man, walking right out of our business cards. In fact, that is our CEO. Just be viewing one of our business cards, through browsAR (available free on Apple’s App Store, and the Android Market), full-interactive content comes to life.

We’re talking:

- 2D animations

-2D video

-3D animations/models

-3D video

-Logic (buttons you can push to do ANYTHING. For example: Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Yes, even e-commerce…Donations, merchandising, and more!)

-Ability for people to instantly add your business contact information directly to their mobile device’s address book

-Literally, anything you can imagine.

Check out the full press release, featuring our announcement HERE.

Or, peep the video below to see our tech in action!

http://youtu.be/EQviF241M_I

Three, two, one…LAUNCH! :: browsAR is Here!

Ryan — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 18:18:50 +0000

That’s right, folks! browsAR is HERE, and we couldn’t be more excited!

Quite possibly the biggest news to ever leave our Gravity Jack headquarters!

browsAR, Gravity Jack’s flagship application, under development for the last two years…

The world’s FASTEST QR code reader
The world’s ONLY full-featured augmented reality browser, capable of unlocking all of Gravity Jack’s one-of-a-kind augmented reality technology.
Access to our exclusive Facebook QAR technology

…is NOW AVAILABLE!

Now, you’re probably saying, “Where do I get it?! I would pay at least $75.99 for it.” Stop right there. It gets better…

While this app is easily worth 3 times that amount, we’re offering it to you totally free! No you didn’t just die, and go to a heaven where iPhones and Androids live together, rent free…the app really is completely free.

We cannot wait for you to get a taste of this stuff, and you don’t have to! Make your own QAR, right now at browsAR’s homepage (QAR.cc) and download browsAR now! Hit up the links at the end of the blog to choose your weapon and start experiencing augmented reality like you never have, before!

It will be everywhere in no time and we are so excited to launch the app that will constantly be growing and updated with more and more augmented reality from some of the biggest names and brands, in the biggest industries!

Don’t forget to tweet, facebook, and blog it! If you’re a blogger, media, or other press and would like our press kit, click HERE!

Choose your platform, and get started below:

Telect CEO Williams Joins Gravity Jack Board!

Ryan — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 19:49:51 +0000

Whoa pony! Stop the online, digital presses!

We’ve got some awesome news!

We are ecstatic to welcome Telect CEO, Wayne Williams, to his position as chairman and board member, here at Gravity Jack!

We’ve had the pleasure of working cooperatively with Telect over the past 15 months, and are so excited for what this relationship will continue to bring.

Our announcement was made in a press release sent out to the world.

Read it, share it, experience it on a truly intimate level…by clicking the picture, below!

Welcome aboard, Wayne!

Gravity Jack’s Augmented Reality Making A Splash

Ryan — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 19:39:05 +0000

Gravity Jack recently got some serious cover-story love from The Splash!

The publication, released today, highlights a little about what we’ve been up to here, as a company. With our CEO, Luke Richey, smack dab on the cover, The Splash highlights the huge growth that Gravity Jack is experiencing right now.

There’s even a photo of our developer office, but look now, because this one will soon to be replaced by the brand new office, here in Liberty Lake!

Hope you enjoy the bit of local love, and a huge thanks to The Splash for hopping on board the Gravity Jack train of success. To dive on in and check it out, click on the cover photo above! (Or, Click Here)

- Jack

A Gravity Jack Birthday (Augmented Reality Style) – Video

Ryan — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 05:03:38 +0000

As you know from our previous blog, the month of November means birthday, here at Gravity Jack. We just turned two, and if you haven’t stopped by our birthday blog, be sure to check it out, but here’s an exclusive, behind the scenes look, at some of the festivities that went down.

In celebration of the two years that Gravity Jack has spent, kickin’ ass and takin’ names, we ordered a cake, and threw a bit of a party. Using Gravity Jack swag (a little augmented reality trick called “natural feature tracking”), the team surprised the office with a cake, in a way only we could: one where the only candles were augmented. We were able to, not only see the candles explode out of the cake, but also blow out the candles (using the iPad’s microphone), in true celebratory fashion. Check out the video, below, to see our augmented reality party!

All people appearing in the video are real employees, doing all of our own stunts.

A huge thanks to our buddy Austin, at Sure Shot Video, for bringing this video (and the party) to you.

-Jack

Remember, Remember the First of November

Ryan — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 23:22:15 +0000

What do Seabiscuit, The European Union, and Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel have in common? Easy. They all could have made November 1st the greatest day in history…

Unfortunately for them, Gravity Jack hit the scene, called shotgun, and gave Sistine Chapel the backseat for the “Drop off Biscuit at the Glue Factory” road trip.

All joking aside, the first of November is the single greatest day in history, for one reason: Gravity Jack was born. If you know anything about us…you know the party started two years ago. It’s a party called augmented reality and you’re all invited.

When Luke Richey, our CEO, founded Gravity Jack on November 1, 2009, the company was five employees strong, with big dreams. Now, just two years later, Gravity Jack is 38 strong, and those dreams have become our reality. After all, creating reality is what we do.

We’ve always known that augmented reality is the future; but seeing it in action, just two years down the road, is beyond exciting. Business is booming, in a time where not everybody is experiencing the same, and we consider ourselves blessed. We’ve found that people want the very best, and when it’s offered, it’s no wonder why a company like Gravity Jack works. It’s this mindset that drives Gravity Jack’s every movement. I’m serious. You’d have to ask our developers, but I am certain our systems run entirely off of self-motivational audiotapes.

We, simply, have to be the best. Ask anyone (yes, even Siri), and they’ll tell you that we’re going to keep pushing forward to provide you with the most innovative solutions, for years to come.

So, don’t worry about presents. We’ve already given ourself a fresh, new office. As a matter of fact, we went out of our way and got you a little something, from Gravity Jack, and it’s coming very soon. In the meantime, keep showing the love and ride the Gravity Jack train, right in to the future of augmented reality.

Happy Birthday, Gravity Jack.

- Jack

What Recession? We’re Expanding!

Ryan — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 18:13:22 +0000

When I was young, I had a striped rugby shirt. To be honest, for the three years I wore that shirt, I probably looked more like a bumblebee than a rugby player but I wore it religiously. Eventually, when my wrists started showing and the bottom seam crept higher on my waistline, I came to a realization: It had been the perfect shirt for the time, but I had to change; I had to accommodate growth. So, I went and found a new one— One that fit.

It’s a lesson that everyone learns, and is one that Gravity Jack has experienced first-hand since we started with 5 employees, two years ago. Now, sporting 38 (all-star) employees, with plenty more growth on hand, the time has come for Jack to take action. Grab your cardboard boxes and packing tape, folks, because two years after we started, Gravity Jack is proud to say, “What recession?”

We’re moving up, moving out, and moving in to a new pad.

Gravity Jack will soon be cutting the ribbon to our brand-spankin’ new office on Appleway Avenue and, while we may only be moving just far enough to work up a pre-jog sweat, we’re psyched. The new office (pictured in its current state, below) will be the epicenter of shock waves, sending augmented reality in to the future. Boom.

It’s big, and it’s got the size Gravity Jack needs to keep all hands on deck, moving forward with what we do best. The new location will house the entire development floor, the administrative offices and a conference room, keeping all aspects of our business working close together. The best part, of course, is that we’re staying right here in Liberty Lake, where we’ve always called home.

We can’t wait to show you the finished digs, but we’re more excited about what it means for our future. We’ll be sure to keep you in the loop by posting photos, as the new place comes together!

Article: New Tech Catapults Young Firm

GravityJack — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 12:55:27 +0000

via the Spokane Journal of Business

Steve if you are looking down on us right now – sorry that they took a picture with one of the few PC’s in our office. (gag reflex)

-Jack

‘Augmented reality’ focus could lead Gravity Jack to sales, work force growth

By Chey Scott

Of the Journal of Business

Gravity Jack COO Mitch Williams shows a sample of augmented reality through which a Lady Gaga video pops on the screen when a picture of the performer is recognized.
—Staff photo by Chey Scott

A young Liberty Lake-based software-design venture that’s grabbing hold of an up-and-coming computing technology, called augmented reality, is on such a fast growth track that its top executives say they can hardly keep up with its own demand for new employees.

That company, Gravity Jack Inc., has grown into a multimillion-dollar concern in just under two years and also has multiplied from five founding members to nearly 40 employees, says Terry Hoy, its co-founder and senior vice president.

Hoy says Gravity Jack projects that it will triple its revenue this year, though he declines to disclose exact revenue figures. He adds that the company’s overall goal is to surpass $100 million in annual revenue in the coming years.

Gravity Jack expects to double the size of its work force within the next nine months or less, says Chief Operating Officer Mitch Williams. He adds that the company interviews job applicants just about every week, mostly for computer- programming and coding positions.

As a result of that ongoing increase in employees, the company has outgrown its current 2,300-square-foot headquarters space at the TierPoint office building, at 23403 E. Mission. Hoy says it will be moving to a larger 6,000-square-foot space nearby, at 23505 E. Appleway, before the end of the year.

Gravity Jack was founded in November 2009 by Hoy and Luke Richey, its president and CEO. Richey—a local entrepreneur and founder of some other Inland Northwest startups, including Tometa Software Inc.—saw a future demand for tech firms that specialized in the development of augmented-reality products, Hoy says.

Though the young company offers all realms of computer programming services, including development of mobile applications, websites, and other forms of software, augmented reality is its fast-evolving niche.

Augmented reality—also referred to in the industry by the abbreviation AR—is a computer image of a real-world scene that is augmented with additional text, images, or videos. Aug-mented reality also can be described as viewing the real world in an enhanced way, the company’s website says.

Augmented reality can be accessed by using a mobile computing device with a camera, such as a smartphone or tablet computer, that has software installed on it allowing it to recognize markers or locations that trigger it to bring up otherwise hidden information.

Words, images, video, or other data then appears on the device’s display based on what the camera sees and recognizes as a marker or geographical coordinate where that additional information virtually is located.

An example of a real-life application would be leaving a message or data at a specific geographic location that then could later be accessed there by another user, who would be alerted electronically when they were near the data’s access point, Williams says.

He says that type of augmented reality is called geo-location and uses GPS coordinates to “pin” data to a specific location.

Aside from geo-location based augmented reality, Gravity Jack also develops AR projects and software that are accessible through what’s called computer vision, Williams says.

That form of the technology is based on the camera focusing on and recognizing either an image—called natural feature tracking or natural image tracking—or a basic symbol inside a box. Those symbols are similar in function to the square quick-response (QR) codes that increasingly now are found on advertisements and can be scanned by smartphones to bring up a website or other information.

Williams says that in augmented reality, those symbols—called fiduciary markers—could consist of a small black box with a logo or image in the center, or a black bordered box with a simple symbol inside.

When a device’s camera lens views a fiduciary code or recognizes a specific image, it prompts an interactive feature to come onto the screen, he says.

To show its clients a basic demonstration of natural feature tracking-based augmented reality, Gravity Jack has created a simple application that uses a specific photo of Lady Gaga to prompt a music video by the artist to come onscreen and play on an iPad while the photo is in view of the camera. If the image goes out of the camera’s range, the video stops playing, Williams says.

He says that Gravity Jack has developed its own software kit, branded under the name siReal, which it uses to develop its augmented-reality projects.

Williams says the cost to have Gravity Jack develop an augmented-reality application can widely range, depending on the complexity of the project, the amount of time required, and because Gravity Jack’s projects all are customized based on a client’s specifications.

Such projects could include Gravity Jack’s team designing an AR-based mobile application, or an AR feature that a client wished to include on a website.

Hoy says the contract fee for a client of the company could range between $20,000 a month and upwards of $100,000 a month. He says those figures vary based on how many of Gravity Jack’s developers are working on the project, and how many hours a week is spent on it.

Williams says Gravity Jack soon plans to release a new and updated version of its proprietary augmented reality content-viewing application, called browsAR. That version will be available in the coming weeks to download for free from the Apple iTunes App Store, and eventually from the Android Market, Williams says. A simplified version is available now in the iTunes App Store, he adds.

Williams—who is the son of Wayne Williams, president and CEO of Telect Inc., the big Liberty Lake-based telecommunications equipment manufacturer— and Hoy say the goal for browsAR is for it to become the go-to app for viewing augmented-reality products.

“We want it to be to AR what the web browser is to the Internet,” Williams says. “We want browsAR to be where you go to find AR content; it’s the eyes to the AR world.”

Due to nondisclosure agreements, the company can’t name its current clients or describe any of their projects, but Hoy says there will be some large-scale project releases early next year. He says the company’s biggest AR project contract it’s now working on is for a big-name toy manufacturer.

“There are an infinite number of applications of this technology,” Hoy asserts. “It can be used for any type of industry.”

While one of the more mainstream uses of augmented reality is as a marketing tool, Hoy says another potential application of the technology could be as an employee training tool. As an example of how that tool might be applied, he says fiduciary markers on certain machinery or parts could prompt demonstrative videos to show how to perform certain tasks.

“We have some high-profile clients that are looking at the (rising) cost of training,” he says. “What if you could streamline that training and take your iPad up to a piece of equipment and there’s a marker on it, and it’s interactive and a video comes up that tells you how to do something.”

Hoy says the inspiration for the Gravity Jack’s name comes from Richey’s enthusiasm for skydiving, which also was how he met his wife, Jennifer, who’s involved in the company as its chief financial officer. The second part of its name was chosen in honor of Richey’s grandfather, Jack.