Augmented reality is a type of advanced technology that adds digital information into the real-world environment in real time. It works differently in comparison to Virtual reality (VR), which generates a complete artificial display of the environment by creating an artificial world. On the flip side, Augmented reality (AR) uses real-world display and adds perceptual information that is generated on top of the display.
AR provides a smooth blend of the real world for instance a complete 3D surrounding in a person’s perspective and digital features by adding detailed information about the place on top of the display. Consequently, it also has the potential to facilitate its users from suggesting ideas for their help to recreational purposes. The sensory information or visual components will display on the user’s smartphone.
How did AR technology start?
The term AR was introduced by Thomas Caudell, who was a researcher in computer services in the year 1990. He explained the working of head-mounted display technology that was utilized while arranging the difficult wiring harnesses. AR was used first time in the form of a first-down yellow marker display in a football game that was shown on television at the time of 1998. Today, it is a very common type of technology as it is used in many ways in distinctive industries that we witness in our daily lives, for instance in famous products such as Google Glass, HUDs (heads-up displays), games, or in windshields of cars.
How does AR work?
Augmented technology can work on various formats including smartphones, eyes, and tablets. Researchers are trying to enable this technology on contact lenses. For the functionality of this, it needs distinctive tools such as an input device, a display to witness it, a processor, and sensors. However, a smartphone already has all these tools in it like GPS (Global Positioning System) to locate the user’s location, camera, accelerometer, and compass to understand the orientation of the user’s device. AR even has the capability of vision by machine, analyzing objects near it, or understanding the gestures that’s why military training uses this.
Researchers have designed Augmented reality apps by using three-dimensional programs that join animation or digital data in a computer application with the real world. When the AR technology app receives some information from a marker that it knows or understands, it does exactly as it is designed to do after getting the certain code of the marker.
Comparison between VR & AR:
The differences between the technology of virtual reality and augmented reality are very crucial to understand as there has been confusion among plenty of individuals. VR engages people completely in an artificial world with its technology while AR can enhance the real world by mixing with digital elements. VR requires specific headsets but AR is less restrictive in comparison. The key differences between these two technologies, to clarify their difference is:
| Virtual reality (VR): | Augmented reality(AR): |
| Its environment is generated with the help of software. | The technology works by generating the animation or displaying characters in the real environment on the screen. |
| User stays in the real surroundings with this technology. | It uses devices like smartphones, specs, displays, and HUD(in cars). |
| It uses headsets for sensory features like sound and visual immersion. | Users use an entire 3D (three-dimensional) environment with this technology. |
| The technology works by generating distinctive interactions and movements in the artificial environment. | The technology works by generating the animation or displaying characters on the real environment on the screen. |
Uses of AR technology:
Augmented reality works in various ways as it is eligible to make alterations in the visual environment and even can enhance the interface by adding information on top of the natural environment. In addition to this, it facilitates its users in distinctive industries or platforms that are marketing industry, architecture, education, manufacturing, and many more. Some of its uses are:
Retail:
It assists a lot while purchasing an item of furniture or decoration for the consumer’s home. The users can easily use this tool to identify if that certain object will look good or not. It enhances the user’s shopping experience innovatively with the help of catalog apps.
Recreation and gaming purposes:
AR enhances the interface of gaming by overlaying the artificial or virtual components above the real world. It can also add animation or fun faces on the user’s real faces in social media apps for entertainment purposes.
Navigational purposes:
It plays a beneficial role in today’s world as it assists in overlaying the route information while traveling and it is also beneficial for the knowledge of nearby businesses according to our need.
Archeology:
It assists archeologists in analyzing historical places by giving them a complete 3D idea. Additionally, it also helped in researching or reconstructing a site for future archeologists.
Measuring :
AR can analyze or detect surroundings or aid in measuring the objects in their surroundings. Subsequently, this feature will elevate the maximum hurdle of measuring by using measuring objects and purchasing stuff like furniture online.
Architecture:
In the field of Architecture, the tool helps architects visualize a building even before its construction to get a complete stress-free process as one will know how it will come out.
Medicine:
The AR technology helps students to learn fast and understand anatomy well. It can also display the complete 3D body systems or their work on the screen of our mobile phones which allows medical students to treat well.
Examples of Augmented reality:
Technology also plays a crucial role in the lives of individuals at the moment. It assists in various ways from analyzing a corner of the house to getting the structure of a complete building. This tool will be at your assistance in designing your house. Many developers are working hard on creating more such technologies; however, a few examples of the apps that use AR technology are:
- Google Glass feature
- Snapchat (social media) app
- Apple measure app
- Target app
- Pokemon Go app
- Tactical Augmented reality
