An augmented reality system includes a video source, and a database. The video source resides at a location and produces an image. At least one encoded marker resides within the image. A marker detector is coupled to the video source and is adapted to derive encoded data from the marker residing within the image. A localization processor is adapted to receive data from the marker detector and to generate data regarding location and orientation of the marker. The localization processor retrieves information from the database that is related to the location and orientation of the marker. The localization processor makes the information retrieved from the database available to a user.