By Bonnie Optekman, VP News Technology

We're now officially launched on yet another new interactive technology... augmented reality.

Heard of it? Have you ever used it?

It's basically using a computer or smart phone (or app phone as David Pogue has dubbed them) to, well, enhance what you're seeing in the real world.

Among many brands, Hallmark has gotten into the act with an augmented reality card.

So what are we up to?

If you come down to Rockefeller Plaza to see TODAY or the 2010 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, here are the steps to follow:

1) Before you visit, download the GoldRun App for iPhone.

2) Find the "New York Holiday" run.

3) Proceed to Rockefeller Plaza.

4) Hold up your iPhone and search for seven hidden, virtual objects.

5) As you find one, you can "grab" it and then take a picture.

6) If you find all seven, you will unlock a special offer at the NBC Experience Store.

Please have fun with it. If you do take pictures, share them with us.

You can see a few that a few of our staffers took on the NBC News Tumblr.

So why are we doig this? Because we can? Because it's buzzy? Well, yes, but we also want to engage our viewers in new ways and wherever they are. And while this is still a little bit bleeding edge, it appears to be a growing one. So we decided to do a soft launch experiment to see how much people like it. And we're thinking about other things that we can do with augmented reality. Have any ideas? We welcome them.

Happy New Year!