Meet a Virtual Dinosaur In Japan

In what sounds like a real world version of TV show Primeval (RIP), visitors to Chiba Prefecture in Japan this summer could find them face to face with a life-sized virtual dinosaur.

As part of the Dinosaur 2009 – Miracles of the Desert exhibition at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, technology company Canon is sponsoring an augmented reality section. Visitors will be able to use special high resolution “hand-scopes” which will create a virtual triceratops in the hall with them.

Some half a million people are expected to visit the Dinosaur 2009 exhibition which runs from July 18th to September 27th. Note that the Canon AR section only runs until the 1st of August.

If you can read Japanese the official press release is here. Or (like me) you can try the Google English translation here.