Using technology to observe and think creatively about works of art, the McNay Art Museum presents Reality Check, an iPad app that uses augmented reality to experience works of art in multi-sensory ways.

"Reality Check encourages engagement in the museum on a personal level. Visitors cast votes, mix soundtracks, and hear from some of the artists, "says Kate Carey, Director of Education. "Because the augmented reality software recognizes works of art as specific markers, you have to be in the museum to play. It's like a tech savvy search-and-find meets a choose-your-own-adventure story.

The Reality Check app is available for check-out in the museum lobby during the exhibition Real/Surreal: Selections from the Whitney Museum of American Art, on view through May 19, 2013. Visitors provide a valid ID to use one of the available iPads. The McNay collaborated with Augmented Ideas (AI), a San Antonio based mobile app development studio that creates apps for iOS, Android, and Windows 8 mobile. AI designer Adam Watkins is head of the 3D Animation & Game Design program at the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW), and Denny Fagan is an instructor in the Graphic Arts department at UIW. Reality Check is not currently available for public download.

Multimedia features include:

-User-generated sound animations triggered by augmented reality hotspots

-Video demonstration by Real/Surreal artist Harold Edgerton

-Crowd-sourcing voting activities