Augmented reality lets you see digital information superimposed on a real-world object. Examples include the yellow first-down lines that appear on television images of American gridiron football fields and virtual flight paths that help television viewers track a baseball or hockey puck.
AR technology starts with a camera-equipped device such as a smartphone, tablet or smart glasses. Software in the device parses a video feed to identify the object.
What is AR?
Augmented reality (AR) is a technology that superimposes digital information on the real world. The result is a seamless combination of the virtual and physical worlds, allowing users to interact with both at once.
AR is powered by cameras and sensors that capture the real-world environment. They then send this data to software for interpretation and display. This is often done using a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet with an AR app installed.
For example, in the retail industry, AR applications allow customers to view products in a real environment before making a purchase. This can help reduce return rates and increase conversions. Other use cases include training and safety. For instance, a worker with an AR headset can see detailed safety procedures right on the job site without having to look up instructions. Also, skilled specialists can practice complex medical procedures with an augmented reality overlay. This helps them build confidence in their abilities before performing them on a patient.
What is the technology behind AR?
The technology behind AR is complex, but it's not as complicated as virtual reality (VR). It consists of an optical system that includes light sources and receivers. The light sources are microdisplays, such as organic light-emitting diodes or liquid crystal displays. The receivers are the eyes of the wearer. The microdisplays project augmented reality content over the real environment.
This is known as superimposition-based AR. The device detects a marker and then overlays digital information on the object. The user can interact with the AR information by moving, rotating or scaling it.
Mobile AR uses smartphones Uses of augmented reality and tablets with cameras to display digital overlays. It's popular in apps like X-Plane and Pokémon Go, but it also has a number of business applications. For example, it can help train salespeople to better understand product features. It can also improve quality control in manufacturing, reducing downtime and improving productivity. And it can bring history to life at sites such as Pompeii.
How does AR work?
Augmented reality works by overlaying digital information over the user’s real-world view. The overlaid content can be anything from a map or directions to virtual characters and objects that can interact with the physical environment.
A device, like a smartphone or a pair of smart glasses, is loaded with AR software. When the user points the device’s camera at an object, the software recognizes it using computer vision technology and downloads information about it from a cloud server. The device then uses sensors such as GPS, accelerometers, gyroscopes, cameras and depth sensors to display the model on its screen, creating a part-real, part-digital 3-D interface.
Marker-based AR requires a special pre-programmed marker, such as a QR code or a printed image, to activate the AR experience. This type of AR is most commonly used for things such as augmented maps and navigation, or in stores to show product information. Projection-based AR displays 3D images and digital content onto a surface, such as a wall or table. This can be interactive - the most well known example is a projected digital keyboard that allows you to type.
What are the benefits of AR?
The benefits of AR include:
Productivity and efficiency: AR can provide immediate information on the machine or equipment you are working on, help find the right part to repair it faster, reduce downtime and support continuous production. It can also be used for training employees, reducing costly mistakes and providing on-demand expert guidance.
Customer service: Using AR, customers can see how products will look or work in their homes before making a purchase, which helps to lower return rates and improve conversions. For example, a paint company can allow consumers to virtually try out a color on their walls before buying.
Education: AR has the potential to revolutionize the way we learn and engage students. It can help teach practical skills like driving or operating sophisticated medical equipment, and it can provide an immersive experience for students to practice their craft.
The future of AR is bright: the latest iPhones and iPads, along with Android-driven smartphones, have processors powerful enough to run AR apps. Paired with the rollout of 5G data networks, AR will be faster and more capable than ever before.
