Augmented reality app to teach Australians beach safety

Think of it as Pokémon Go, but for rips, submerged rocks and shallow sandbars.

Samsung Australia is currently trialling a free augmented reality app called Pocket Patrol in partnership with Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA). The Android app is being piloted for four weeks at Queensland's Coolum Beach and Alexandra Headland.

While looking at your phone may not seem the most natural beach activity, the app is meant to engage and educate beachgoers about ocean dangers.

"It's not a safety device," Philip Newton, corporate vice president of Samsung Australia, told Mashable, emphasising it's not intended to replace lifesavers. "It's simply an education tool to help people become aware of what these hazards look like." Read more...