Cambridge augmented reality company Aurasma, the world’s first visual browser, was named the DEMOgod Award winner and also voted the People’s Choice Award winner after demonstrating its newest 3D interactive technology at DEMO in Silicon Valley.

 Aurasma uses real world images and objects as triggers, merging them with rich interactive content such as videos and 3D animations called Auras.

Available for iPhone4, iPad2 and high powered Android devices, Aurasma is available for free in the App Store and Android Market. Aurasma has already achieved two million downloads since its launch in June.

The judging panel acknowledged the company’s exceptional potential to thrive in the market.

Aurasma was also chosen as the People Choice Award winner by the press and DEMO audience and granted a $1 million IDG Media prize, including an exclusive multimedia advertising package.

During a six minute presentation on stage, Aurasma demonstrated the platform’s advanced 3D capabilities and gesture-based interactions, and how quick and easy it is for anyone to create an Aura.

Having taken a video of the DEMO audience waving during the presentation, Aurasma overlaid the video on top of the DEMO conference logo and, on the spot, made the Aura live for anyone in the world with an Aurasma-enabled device to see.

Matt Mills, director of Aurasma, said: “Aurasma is about to change the way we see and interact with the world by merging the physical with the virtual world. That’s a big message to communicate to the DEMO audience in only six minutes, so we purposely chose ordinary objects as the triggers - a newspaper, a wireless router and a floor plan.

“Aurasma brought these everyday things into digital life, showing just how useful this technology can be – whether it’s delivering breaking news from a printed newspaper, showing you how to install a home entertainment system or even finding your way around a building. We’re happy our big picture vision resonated with the audience.”

Aurasma is following in ‘daddy’s’ footsteps. General Manager, Jennifer Rapp added: “Being recognised at DEMO is particularly special to us, because 11 years ago, our parent company, Autonomy, came here and was named a DEMOgod. In 2007, Autonomy spinout Blinkx was crowned DEMOgod, and this year it was Aurasma’s turn. The same core technology, Autonomy’s IDOL, is at the heart of all three companies – a testament to its vast potential to change the way in which we interact with information and computers.”