Augmented Reality and it's Applications

Augmented reality is also known as AR. AR a live view of a physical real-world environment with an overlay of computer-generated imagery. It's main benefit is to allow people to find information without having to be in front of a computer using a search engine. By simply looking at the environment, certain information will appear depending on what it being looked at, and what the person has chosen to view. What is being looked at is determined by the GPS position and the direction is determined by a compass. Both of these are now available in most new smart phones.

What the person decides to view as an overlay can be thought of as layers. For example they might choose to see restaurants, public transport information or even prices of objects in a shop. These layers can be switched on one or many at a time. Other permanent layers might include a clock or the current temperature.

Aside from informational layers, virtual gadgets will also become a possibility. Devices such as the clocks, radios, stock tickers, public transport timetables, advertising billboards, in-car navigation could all be replaced by virtual displays that cost nothing except the cost of writing the software. For tradesmen there could be tape measures, levels, and painters could even preview the colors on walls before they paint it.

Holograms for looking at objects or for video conferencing have been tricky to produce, but with AR glasses on, they can be easily be seen by a person wearing AR glasses like the Vuzix Wrap 920. Once people start wearing these types of glasses, the information they can see becomes less conspicuous. They could be watching the news on the bus or seeing information about you without you even knowing it.

Here is a round up of the current players striving for market dominance:

Layar on Android and iphone 3GS - For finding places and information based on location and direction.

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Google Goggles on Android - For searching by images and location as well as translating foreign text.

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and Twitter is getting in on the act too.

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Posted: 1 year, 10 months ago by scomar #247

Imagine pointing the camera to a landmark and reading about it. No need to have a travel guide!

Posted: 1 year, 10 months ago by Guest #233

It would be cool to wear these shopping and comparison shop on the go. Imagine looking at a TV in Wal-mart, seeing that its cheaper elsewhere and walking out. I like !!

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