Augmented Reality: The Technology of the Future

Augmented Reality (AR) is a field of computer research which deals with the combination of a real scene viewed by a user and a virtual scene generated by a computer that augments the scene with additional information. At present, most AR research is concerned with the use of live video imagery which is digitally processed and “augmented” by addition of computer-generated graphics.
Even though it is considered a fairly new technology (only 16 years old), it really isn’t that new. Though the term was coined by Tom Caudell in 1992, it is said that the first applications actually appeared in the late 1960s and 1970s. By the 1990s, augmented reality was being used for visualization, training, and other purposes. Now the technologies that make augmented reality possible are powerful and compact enough to deliver AR experiences to personal computers and mobile devices.
Working:
In order for AR to work, devices must be connected to the Internet. AR can be accomplished in two different ways –
(1) The viewer looks at a screen which shows both the visible objects and the augmented objects.
e.g. The giant logos/ads displayed on sports fields for television-viewing audiences only.
(2) The viewer can look through a device, using the screen display generated by a digital camera.
e.g. Navigation systems.
Benefits:
  •  It combines real-world environments and virtual reality, since real-world environments can interact with virtual objects and virtual-objects will  respond to real-world physical action.
  •  It is interactive in real time since data can be generated and processed in real time.
  •  It is registered in three dimensions as imagery is in 3D wherein Graphics and Models are created by designers.
Limitations:
  •  Programmer must be able to write code based on physical input and output.
  •  When including more detailed graphics, processing can be more intense.
  •  The research of AR is still under development and hence there still are vast arenas left unexplored.
Applications:
AR in today’s world is finding wide usage in the areas of advertising, marketing, industry, science, arts, 3D geographical mapping and education. AR technology is a costly development. Future applications are dependent on reduction in cost. Expanding PC operation to eye movements or gestures on virtual icons, replacing cell phone and vehicle navigation screens with eye-dialing, virtual plants, wallpapers, panoramic views, artwork, virtual gadgetry etc. are some major areas of applications currently gaining focus. Advanced research includes the use of motion-tracking data, fiducial marker recognition using machine vision and the construction of controlled environments containing any number of sensors and actuators.
Conclusion:
There are a few issues to be addressed regarding augmented reality before it can move forward and increase its impact on day to day lives. The first is the current state of AR technology. Though it has developed greatly from its inception, the applications still need a lot of work to be thorough and accurate. Technological limitations in computer vision and image processing are some of the factors that need to be improved for better AR devices. There is no doubt that augmented reality has a bright future and the potential to greatly impact everyday transactions and interactions. More companies and organizations are beginning to embrace this alternative to traditional media and there is greater academic involvement in the field given its vast utility. Moving forward, it is expected that AR devices will play an integral role in educational, military and industrial settings. Privacy and security concerns, however, must be considered with the advancement and dissemination of augmented reality technology. However, one thing is for sure:
Augmented Reality is augmenting its own future!!!
(Reblogged. Originally written by me for Easy Home Tutor, on 26th June 2015)

Copyright © 2015

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