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Feb 02 2018 
The Forgotten Women of the Alamo
Of the many stories about the Alamo, one of the least understood is the roll women played. There were three distinct, but very similar groups of woman. First, there were women and children who were sheltered in the Alamo during the siege and assault.
The second group of women were just outside the Alamo. They followed… -
Jan 27 2018 
Storytelling in a Non-Linear Medium
In developing the concept for the Alamo AR experience we realized we would have to invent a new form of storytelling. It had to be non-linear. Non-linear storytelling exists in film, for instance, Pulp Fiction is a great example. The beginning of the movie is actually near the end of the story. As a viewer…
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Jan 26 2018 
Artist and Historian Provides Accuracy to Alamo Augmented Reality App
When it comes understanding the architecture of the Alamo in 1836, Gary Zaboly, author and illustrator of many non-fiction accounts including An Altar for Their Sons: The Alamo and the Texas Revolution in Contemporary Newspaper Accounts, is considered one of, if not the, top expert in this field. His hand-drawn illustrations and paintings are widely accepted…
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Jan 22 2018 
You Say You Want a Revolution?
I love books.
I read them, review them, restore them, collect them, and write them. Growing up as an only child, books became my friends and playmates. Echoing the novelist Neil Gaiman, “I lived in books more than I lived anywhere else.” My life as a university professor, revolves around books.
Yet, my years in the classroom…
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Jan 20 2018 
If you could visit the Alamo in 1836, what would you see?
Below are screen captures from the 3D computer-generated models of the Alamo in 1836. With the aid of our augmented reality app you will be able to visit the Alamo compound as it existed at the time of the battle. The images are included in short movies that will provide information to help you understand…
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Jan 19 2018 
For Historian, AR Fulfills Dream of Time Travel
Why would a historian be interested in helping build an Augmented Reality app? His answers demonstrate not only his love for the subject to which he has devoted his life; but also a willingness to accept how new technologies can enhance our understanding of events.
How do you see this project in the context of other…
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Jan 17 2018 
Why Include the Most Hated Song in Texas?
In the Experience Real History: Alamo Edition app, the Imagine Virtua producers could have added any background music, or no music at all. But that would not have been an accurate depiction of events–and it would have been missing a huge element. Before the battle, the Mexican army played the “deguello” a song that struck…
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Jan 17 2018 
Augmented Reality: Can it Really be Used in History Class?
Augmented reality is the integration of digital information with the user’s environment in real time. Most people confuse augmented reality with virtual reality. Virtual reality, creates a totally artificial environment, and to be in that environment, the user is required to strap a device to their face. Augmented reality, in contrast, uses the existing environment and…
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Jan 15 2018 
Why would she die, fighting for a Texas that embraced slavery?
There are aspects of the Alamo Story that remain somewhat of a mystery
The scene opens from above the southwest emplacement. We see bodies scattered around the 18-pounder. And in the center, we see the lifeless body of a woman, her finger barely touching the hand of another victim. The camera drifts into the scene, isolating…
