Everything you need to know about Augmented Reality

Augmented Reality

What is Augmented Reality?

Augmented reality is the technology that expands our physical world, adding layers of digital information onto it. Unlike Virtual Reality (VR), AR does not create the whole artificial environments to replace real with a virtual one. AR appears in direct view of an existing environment and adds sounds, videos, graphics to it. It is a view of the physical real-world environment with superimposed computer-generated images, thus changing the perception of reality.

With the growth in the number of smart mobile devices and the continuous improvement of their capabilities, augmented reality has penetrated a number of aspects of human life. This has become an interactive concept that affects how we buy or study.To superimpose digital information, AR applications can use different methods like connecting computer-generated content to ‘markers’ or determining the point where to add data with GPS.

How AR woks?

Augmented reality can be divided into four main phases, which make additional content superimposition possible:

An AR solution captures a part of the environment using a camera on a smartphone, tablet, or head-mounted display (HMD).

Then it scans the captured piece of the environment to identify a point where to overlay additional information using markers or trackers like infrared, laser, GPS, or sensors.

As soon as this point is determined, an augmented reality solution requests predefined content to overlay further an environmental footprint with additional information.

Once the necessary content is requested, the solution forms a complete image consisting of the real-world background and overlaid AR data.

Augmented Reality vs Mixed Reality vs Virtual Reality

Mixed reality lets users interact with virtual holograms and real objects within their physical world. Although this is what augmented reality does – mixed reality is said to anchor virtual objects to a point in real space, making it possible to treat them as ‘real’ from the perspective of the person using MR devices. Essentially, the digital illusion is harder to break.

AR is also not to be confused with virtual reality (VR), which is a fully immersive experience for the user without interaction of the physical world around them. VR is a computer-generated simulation of 3D images (or usually an environment) that can be interacted with by the user in a seemingly real way through the aid of a headset but it’s essentially quite an isolating experience.

Applications of AR

Head up Displays

Head-up display, also known as HUD, is a transparent display that shows visual content within the scene of a user viewpoint. These solutions were originally developed for pilot training to help them learn how to fight in the air.Over the time, HUDs found their application in civil aviation, automotive, and other industries. Their technology stack includes a projector, which transmits an image onto a display, combiner for capturing projected light, and video processor to generate visual data.

It also used in corporate training sessions. With head up diplays specialists can test their skills in action without any risk to damage corporate property or make a mistake that can lead to financial losses.Moreover, junior workers can get real-time assistance, which is especially useful for special occasions or unexpected issues.

AR smart glasses

AR smart glasses are a wearable transparent device that generates AR content within the scene of the user’s viewpoint. When wearing such glasses, users can see their physical surrounding in the same way as in the case of traditional glasses. However, AR smart glasses like Google Glass superimpose additional content to whatever users see.

The augmented reality now significantly impacts the digital transformation process of the whole sector across the globe. Companies start implementing immersive technology to optimize their everyday tasks. For instance, DHL uses AR smart glasses to improve employees’ vision picking when performing warehouse operations. this tool shows workers a virtual picking list and provides them with the most convenient route to a necessary item thus allowing them to optimize their travel time.In addition, once a worker is at the right place, smart glasses help him or her quickly find a certain package on the shelf through barcode scanning.

AR smart lenses

AR smart lenses are a relatively new concept. In fact, this is an advanced version of smart glasses. Unlike smart glasses, users wear AR lenses the same way they wear dioptric contact lenses.For instance, Samsung has a patent of smart lenses with a built-in camera and sensors controlled by blinking. This technology stack superimposes additional content to whatever a wearer sees.

Virtual Retina Displays

Virtual retinal displays (VRDs) visually look similar to VR glasses. However, unlike VR glasses, VRDs have no displays at all. Instead, they project AR content right on the user’s retina. Apart from being heavy, these devices don’t make users try to focus on an image which appears close to their eyes. Instead, users can relax their eyes and let a VRD do its magic.

Conclusion

Small and medium companies are hesitating to invest in AR technology, many huge enterprises like DHL and BMW have already been experimenting with it to differ from their competitors and cut a bigger piece of the market pie.In a few years, we will definitely see many other businesses implementing augmented reality for use cases we have never thought of.

Also we will see a lot of improvements in education, in medical equipments which will help us to treat a basic patient as well as a worst patient with critical conditions in the easiest way, in automobile industries, in our daily lifes as well.

As you have read it till now so please don't forget to follow this blog as I am uploading blogs everyday. Link to follow this blog- https://dailytechentertainment.blogspot.com/

Previous Post->Will humans become immortal in future?