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Augmented Perception: Maxence Parache’s Hyper(reality) Helmet

Reality just went into hyperdrive.

Just two months ago, London-based Parisian designer and futurist Maxence Parache fitted HD-video glasses into a helmet, morphed an Arduino circuit board into a glove, and strapped a Kinect on his back. The ensuing result (which is a much sleeker version of HACK Lab’s prototype), shown at both London's Geffrye Museum and famed curio shop The Last Tuesday Society, is a virtual reality experience straight out of a Radiohead music video, perhaps altered by some quality psychedelics.

Maxence says: "Embodying the concept theorized by hyperrealism theories, the helmet provides a digital experience, immersing the user in an alternative version of reality seen through the helmet. Instead of having a static point of view, the user becomes able to navigate through the 3D environment, enabling new behaviours specific to the hyperreal world while still having to physically interact with the real environment."

While the yellow helmet is only one of three (he made two more colors with the hope of supporting multiplayer scenarios), the possibilities of such a device are astounding, especially since the project is open-source and therefore free for development and innovation. Vacations for the travel-impaired? Digital 3D sculpture in Photoshop? VR-enabled battlefields? All I know is: I'm one step closer to finally "being" John Malkovich.

Below, the process of creating an augmented reality helmet: