Augmented Reality is the combination of
the real physical world and interactive digital elements such as
haptic feedback, sensory projections and visual overlays. Various
types of digital elements are added on to the smartphone using
advanced technology. This creates an illusion that those holographic
elements are part of the real world around you. The sensory
information that the computer generates can be either an addition to
the real environment or masking of the real environment.
Augmented Reality is different from
Virtual Reality. In VR technology, users are immersed completely in
an artificial environment that is developed using computer
technology. But Augmented Reality changes the user’s surroundings
by adding visual 3D objects, graphics, sound and videos to the real
world. It actually adds to the reality instead of replacing it. This
technology allows the users to virtually try anything on them, such
as glasses or visualize how an object will look at a specific place.
AR is now easily accessible to the
people worldwide because of the latest developments in this
technology and globalization. AR can be best experienced on mobile
devices. Even special devices such as smart glasses and head-up
displays are good for experiencing Augmented Reality.
Although AR is considered as a
futuristic technology, a form of AR has been there for many years.
For instance, in the 1990s, the pilot in fighter aircraft would get
all the information, such as direction, speed of its plane and
altitude.
In the last few years, many companies
have developed devices that offer Augmented Reality to users. Fluid
Interfaces Group of MIT Media Labs launched SixthSense in 2009. It
comprised of a smartphone, a camera, mirror and a projector. In 2013,
Google developed Google Glass, which helped people to experience AR
through a wearable interface.
However, smartphones and tablets are
the devices through which AR gets into most of the people’s lives.
For instance, the user can point their phone’s camera at the sky to
get information on stars and planets that are superimposed on an
image using Star Walk app from Vito Technology. A popular app called
Layar displays names of nearby restaurants and stores after
collecting information about the surroundings using the phone’s
camera and GPS. Pokemon Go, mobile game sensation, is the best
example of Augmented Technology. In this game the users have to
collect the characters that would pop up virtually in their
surroundings.
The phones and tablets are not the only
options for Augmented Reality. Research is underway to include AR
functionality in wearable devices and contact lenses too. There are
many other fields such as real estate, healthcare and retail sector,
where AR has been very much beneficial in the recent years.
How to Hire a Great Augmented Reality Developer from Toptal: