If you've ever used Google Search to see 3D animals in your environment, you've experienced augmented reality (AR). But AR is far more than just a fun way to interact with the digital world.
It's a transformative technology that overlays digital information — such as images, sounds, or other data — onto the real world. It enhances our sensory experiences and offers many benefits, from improved learning and user engagement to revolutionary applications in sectors like healthcare, retail, and manufacturing.
This article will answer the following questions: what is augmented reality, how it works, what types it includes, and how it differs from virtual reality? Let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
What Is Augmented Reality (AR)?
Augmented reality is a cutting-edge technology that combines digital data with real-world surroundings to create an environment where digital and physical elements coexist.
It utilizes cameras, sensors, and computer vision algorithms to perceive and interact with the real world. Interaction happens in real time, allowing for a seamless and highly interactive user experience (UX). Smartphones, tablets, smart glasses, and headsets can all function as AR experience platforms.
One of AR’s most valuable qualities is its capacity to deliver actionable insights by emphasizing certain aspects of the physical world. This feature is becoming increasingly relevant in an era of big data when such insights can affect business decision-making processes and provide a deeper understanding of customer behavior.
AR technology has applications across various sectors, such as gaming, entertainment, retail, education, and healthcare. It's particularly impactful in industrial settings, where it can turn work environments into interactive learning spaces, optimizing technology and human input.
In essence, AR is not just an enhanced version of reality; it's a tool that can revolutionize how we interact with the world around us, making it more informative, engaging, and insightful.
How Does Augmented Reality Work?
AR is part of a larger, interconnected ecosystem that often includes artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, big data, and automated robotics.
Here's a step-by-step breakdown of how AR functions:
- Device access: An AR-enabled device, such as smart glasses, a tablet, or a smartphone, captures the surrounding environment using its built-in camera. A surrounding can be anything from a physical object to the layout of a room. The device's camera acts as the eyes of the AR system, processing the video feed to identify key elements in the real world.
- Creating digital copy: The device creates a 3D digital replica of the identified object and stores it in the cloud. This copy or “digital twin” serves as a bridge between the real and virtual worlds. The digital twin collects data from the physical object, allowing for a seamless interaction between the real and digital environments.
- Cloud connection: The AR device retrieves relevant information about the object from the cloud and overlays this digital data onto the real-world object. Various markers or trackers, such as GPS and sensors, accurately position the digital overlay, creating a hybrid 3D interface.
- Real-time interaction: Users can interact with this augmented environment in real-time, using touch, voice commands, or gestures to send instructions to the cloud. The cloud-based system allows for a dynamic and interactive experience, constantly updating based on user input and environmental changes.
Types of Augmented Reality
There are two types of augmented reality:
1. Marker-Based AR
Also known as image recognition AR, this type uses visual markers like QR codes to initiate the AR experience. When a user scans the marker using a mobile device, digital elements are activated and displayed in 3D. However, this type is generally limited to mobile devices and may require a dedicated app for full functionality.
2. Markerless AR
This type of AR uses location-based data from mobile devices to understand the user's environment. It allows for a more flexible and dynamic AR experience, which makes it popular in online shopping and gaming. Markerless AR can adapt to various surfaces and environments, although its complexity can make it more costly to implement. It encompasses other subtypes of AR: projection-based, superimposition-based, and location-based AR:
- Projection-Based AR: This model uses projectors to display digital content on flat surfaces. While it doesn't create a fully immersive environment, it effectively displays holograms at events or retail settings.
- Superimposition-Based AR: In this type, digital content partially or fully replaces an existing physical object when viewed through an AR-supported device. It can identify specific features in the user's environment and overlay digital information accordingly.
- Location-Based AR: This model specifically uses geographic data to trigger digital elements. It's popular in gaming applications and can also be used in retail to create interactive experiences like virtual scavenger hunts within a store.
For a more detailed exploration of these different types of augmented reality, read our article "Types of Augmented Reality."
Examples of Augmented Reality
Augmented reality has found its way into various industries, offering unique experiences that range from practical applications to pure entertainment. Here are a couple of examples:
- Retail: Many retail stores now offer AR features within their apps, allowing customers to virtually "try on" clothes or preview how furniture would look in their homes before making a purchase. For example, experience the future of shopping with IKEA's AR feature or Home Depot's mobile app, which allows you to visualize how their furniture will fit into your living space.
- Entertainment: AR has transformed the entertainment industry by providing immersive experiences that engage users. AR adds a layer of excitement and involvement to the user experience through engaging games like Pokemon Go or captivating social media filters like the ones in the Snapchat app.
- Healthcare: AR is revolutionizing surgical procedures and diagnostics in the medical field. Surgeons can overlay digital images onto the patient to assist in precision during procedures. The xvision Spine System, for example, uses advanced AR technology to provide surgeons with a view similar to X-ray, allowing them to see through skin and tissue. Improved vision allows doctors to manage surgical instruments and implants more precisely during spine-related procedures.
For more interesting insights on how augmented reality is used in day-to-day life, read our article "10 Augmented Reality Examples."
Augmented Reality vs. Virtual Reality
Terms augmented reality and virtual reality are often used interchangeably; although both offer immersive experiences, they do so in fundamentally different ways:
- Augmented Reality (AR): AR enhances the real world by overlaying digital elements. The user remains aware of and can interact with their environment while engaging with the digital elements. This split nature makes AR highly versatile and applicable in many fields, from retail to healthcare.
- Virtual Reality (VR): Unlike AR, VR creates an entirely simulated environment disconnected from the real world. Users wear specialized headsets that provide a fully immersive experience, often requiring additional hardware like full body trackers, haptic gloves, or covers for interaction.
In summary, while AR adds to your reality, VR creates a new one. Each has unique strengths and applications, but both transform how we interact with the world and digital information. Read our Virtual Reality for Business guide to learn more about VR applications.
What Is Augmented Reality: Final Thoughts
By the end of 2023, there will be an estimated 1.4 billion AR device users, underscoring that AR is one of the most popular immersive technologies today. Augmented reality is not just a technological innovation; it's a transformative tool that is reshaping our interaction with our surroundings. As technology continues to evolve, AR has the potential to become an integral part of our daily lives, offering new ways to engage, learn, and experience the world.
To explore AR and VR further, check out our top VR & Augmented Reality companies. They offer a range of solutions that cater to individual and enterprise needs, making it easier than ever to integrate AR into your life or business.
What Is Augmented Reality? FAQs
1. What is augmented reality, in simple words?
In simple words, augmented reality is a technology that adds digital elements, like pictures, animations, or special effects, into the real world as you see it through a device like a smartphone or special glasses.
2. What is an example of augmented reality?
An example of augmented reality is the mobile game Pokemon Go, where players use their smartphones to find and capture virtual Pokemon that appear in real-world locations. Another example is Snapchat's filters, which allow users to add digital elements like haircuts, glasses, animal ears, or makeup to their selfies in real time.
3. How do most people use AR currently?
Most people currently use AR for shopping and entertainment. In retail, 61% of consumers prefer stores that offer AR experiences, and 32% regularly use AR while shopping. Over 90& of the younger generations, particularly Gen Z, are especially interested in AR for shopping. Aside from retail, AR is commonly used in mobile games like Pokemon Go and social media apps like Snapchat for interactive experiences.
AR is also a valuable tool for skill acquisition, with 70% of consumers acknowledging its utility. In the workplace, 72% of U.S. consumers see improved collaboration as one of the top advantages of using AR. Various professions and hobbies, including engineers, tourists, and fitness enthusiasts, are finding unique applications for AR in their respective fields.
4. Why is AR becoming popular?
AR is becoming popular because it enhances user experiences; it adds interactivity to traditional activities, making them more engaging and informative. For example, AR allows consumers to virtually "try on" products in retail, leading to more confident purchasing decisions and lowering mistakes. AR technology is also becoming more accessible, with increasing numbers of smartphones and tablets that support AR features.
