American Mark Skwarek designing augmented reality tool that erases signs of DMZ


A mobile application developer from the U.S. is working to create a way for people to see what Korea would be like without a border dividing it.

Using augmented reality, Mark Skwarek is developing an app for iPhones and Android phones that allows people to view the landscape of the DMZ with the border erased.

By going to the right spot, users can hold the phone up in front of themselves to see what Skwarek envisions the view of a united Korea would be like.

“I am certainly not claiming that this project will actually unite the country,” says Skwarek. “But I hope it will act as a vision of hope to the Koreans.”

Skwarek says the inspiration for the app came from his Korean-born fiance. Many of their friends and family are worried about the potential for conflict.

“One our friends is working at his job with the goal of helping relocate his family to the U.S. specifically because to the North-South conflict.”

At the moment, the free app is still a very raw beta version. It runs using Layar, and is set up to work at just two locations: Panmunjeom and the nearby Dora Observatory.

However, Skwarek plans to add more locations, and update the app as the technology improves. He came to Korea in August to refine the application, making visits to the DMZ and nearby areas, but making progress proved tricky.

“I had to change my plans onsite at the moment for each site.” He says. “It was somewhat more of a scouting expedition ― getting objects put into basic position.”

“It usually takes 2 days on site to make sure an artwork is dialed in. Here, at the best locations, I was given 10 minutes at the end of a full day tour. This was an incredibly small window to work in. Often the piece can sometimes take 2-3 minutes just to load.”

“Getting the lighting right on the camera and adjustments to the model was very, very tough.”

He says he understands the security concerns and agrees there are good reasons for the restrictions on photographs and video.

“I worked very hard not to break any rules and still be able to show something in public without jeopardizing the people of Korea’s safety.”

He also aims to achieve a first with the project ― augmented reality in North Korea. After visiting the area, he came back with shots of what may be the first examples. The positioning of the images was slightly out of place, and the haze meant the contrast was wrong, but the rudimentary content was there.

The most effective shots are of the Dora Observatory itself, where the main building is replaced by a verdant hillside.

In the images Skwarek uses to promote the project, areas are inevitably filled with trees and countryside, rather than the apartments and roads that fill the rest of Korea. This includes, in one image, the erasing a railway that connects the two countries, although this is not part of the app at the moment.

Skwarek says he is still trying to work out how to deal with these aspects.

“I was originally trained as a painting major in my under graduate and I would like to treat this vantage point like a large scale painting. I will get it basically working there and see if it is over-idealizing it.”

You can find out more about the app and how to use it at https://koreanunificationproject.wordpress.com/.

By Paul Kerry (paulkerry@heraldcorp.com)