Augmented Reality by Victor Appleton (most recommended books .TXT) 📕

parts. Now, however, the place looked like a gamer’s paradise. A huge workstation was set up on one end of the room with not one, but three, computer monitors. And a giant flat-screen television was mounted on the wall above it all. The computer screens were filled with the virtual dials and knobs of a professional editing software package. A thin man with glasses sat at the workstation while a video clip of the crowd of students from earlier played on the large TV screen.

“This is Danny, our editor,” Joey said as we entered the room. “He’s going to be editing our show on-site, as we film it.”

Danny didn’t look up from the screens, but he raised a hand and waved.

“Whoa,” Noah said. “This is sick!”

“Oh yeah,” I agreed. I was with my friend on this one. If the reality show was going to donate this setup to the school, it might actually be worth it. “I can’t wait to tell Amy about this.”

“Who’s Amy?” asked Joey.

“She’s a friend of ours,” replied Noah. “She’s an excellent editor and animator.”

“Is that right?” Joey put a hand on the editor’s shoulder. This guy sure was the touchy-feely type. “Think you could use an assistant, Dan?”

Again, the editor didn’t look up from his work. “It’s what I’ve been telling you for three shows now.”

Joey laughed, then moved toward the other end of the room. A thick black curtain had been hung to divide the space. He pulled the fabric back to reveal a small camera on a tripod flanked by two large lights. The camera was aimed at a folding chair positioned in front of a blue curtain. A large microphone was attached to a stand that boomed out over the chair.

“This is our confessional,” Joey said.

I raised an eyebrow. “Confessional?”

“Oh yeah,” Noah said. “It’s where the people talk about what’s happening on the show. I’ve seen that on a bunch of reality shows.”

“There you go,” Joey said. He turned to me and gestured toward the chair. “And I want you two to be the first to try it out.”

I looked at Noah. He should really go first since he was the one who was excited about the show. I was about to say as much, but my best friend just grinned and nodded. I think he was giddy to see how a reality show worked.

I reluctantly took the seat in front of the lights, my stomach somersaulting with nerves.

Joey sat in a folding chair on the other side of the camera. “Okay, now I just want you to look into the camera lens and answer a few questions for me,” Joey said. “Relax. No big deal.”

I raised a finger. “I thought we weren’t supposed to look at the cameras.”

Joey waved away my concern. “That’s just out there. In here, you always look into the camera.”

I let out a long breath, trying to settle my stomach. “Okay.”

Joey pressed a button and a small red light blinked above the lens. “All right, Tom Swift… how does it feel to share a name with your school?”

So much for avoiding special treatment.

I glanced up at Noah for help, but my best friend simply nodded back at me with that same big stupid grin on his face.

5

The Disputation Observation

“ALL RIGHT,” JOEY SAID. “LAST question… What are some of the inventions that you’re most proud of?”

I breathed a little easier. He was finally asking a question that wasn’t about my father, or the Swift Academy, or what it was like being the son of the man who created the entire school. I was so surprised by this turn in the interview that my mind went blank for a moment.

“Oh, uh—” I stammered. “There’s the—oh yeah. I invented an alarm clock where you have to answer different math equations before the alarm shuts off.”

Joey nodded. “Interesting…”

“Tell him about our cloud seeding project,” Noah chimed in.

“That’s right,” I said, sitting up straighter. “Noah and I actually made it rain using model rockets.” I went on to explain how each rocket had shot into a low cloud and dumped a payload of chemicals that made water droplets form. People had been doing that for years, but Noah and I created the same effect with a dozen two-stage model rockets.

“That’s great,” Joey said. “But aren’t you forgetting something?” He tapped his temple with his index finger.

I cocked my head, trying to figure out what he meant. But then I reached up and felt the pair of augmented reality glasses resting on my forehead. My face warmed as I let out a long sigh. I can’t believe I had them on my head the entire time. I must’ve looked like such a nerd.

I pulled the glasses off my head. “These special glasses let me see elements of Noah’s augmented reality app without using my phone.”

Joey grinned. “Excellent.”

“Uh, and they also let me operate this rudimentary robot I created,” I quickly added. “I can see what it sees and operate its hands using the controllers from my console.”

Joey reached over and paused the camera. “I think that’s all we need for now.” He pulled out the pad of hall passes, tore off the top sheet, and handed it to me. “Let’s give Noah a turn.”

“Yeah, okay,” I said as I got to my feet. I had to admit, I was a little disappointed. The questions were just getting interesting.

I moved out of the way so Noah could take the seat in front of the camera. He patted down his hair, looking at his reflection in the lens. I wish I had thought of that. If I had, I might’ve noticed the glasses sitting on my head.

“Want me to stick around?” I asked. Maybe I could jog Noah’s memory the way he’d helped with mine.

“That’s all right,” Joey answered. “I don’t want to keep you from class any longer than necessary.” He gave a quick wink. “I might get in trouble again with your principal.”

“Oh… all right,” I said as I