Augmented reality and virtual reality are very different from virtual reality. Virtual reality refers to a computer-generated environment with which you can interact and immerse yourself. Augmented reality (also known as AR) is a supplement to the reality you usually see, not a substitute.
In today's world, augmented reality often appears as a future technology, but a form of it has existed for many years. For example, as early as the 1990s, the head-up displays on many fighter planes could show the attitude, direction and speed of the aircraft, and only a few years later, they could show which objects in the field of vision were targets.
In the past ten years, various laboratories and companies have made equipment to provide us with augmented reality. In 2009, the fluid interface group of MIT Media Lab demonstrated the sixth sense, which is a device that combines a camera, a small projector, a smart phone and a mirror. The device is hung on the user's chest in the form of a rope. Four sensor devices on the user's finger can be used to manipulate the image projected by the sixth sense.
Google launched Google Glass in 20 13, which transferred augmented reality technology to a more wearable interface. In this case, glasses. It is displayed on the user's lens screen through a small projector, and images, videos and sounds are superimposed on the screen in response to voice commands. Google launched Google Glass at the end of 20 15 and 12.
As it happens, mobile phones and tablets are the ways in which augmented reality enters most people's lives. For example, Vito Technology's Starwalk application allows users to point the camera in a tablet or mobile phone at the sky and see the names of stars and planets superimposed on the image. Another application called Layar uses a smartphone's GPS and camera to collect information around users. Then it will display information about nearby restaurants, shops and places of interest.
Some tablets and mobile applications can also be used for other objects. Disney Research has developed an AR color matching book, which allows you to color characters in traditional books (although compatible with an application) and then launch the application on the device. The application accesses the camera and uses it to detect the character you are coloring, and uses software to recreate the 3D character on the screen.
One of the most popular ways for ar to penetrate into daily life is through mobile games. According to CNET, in 20 16, the AR game Poké mon became popular all over the world, and the estimated number of users exceeded 1 100 million. According to Forbes, the company finally earned more than $2 billion in revenue and continues to grow. This game allows users to see Poké mon characters bouncing around their own cities. The goal is to capture these pocket monsters and then use them to fight others in the AR gym.
20 18 Harry Potter: The Mystery of Hogwarts is a sensation in the mobile AR game. This game allows users to see the Hogwarts world around them, and at the same time has the ability to perform magic, use potions and learn from Hogwarts teachers. As of this writing, the download volume of this game in Google Play Store is about 6,543,800+million times.
Some researchers are also developing holograms, which can make virtual reality go further, because holograms can be seen and heard at the same time.
Holographic research will play an important role in the future development of display and augmented reality equipment. Today, we are studying many other applications, such as ultra-thin and light optical equipment for cameras and satellites, "said Wang Leyan, a doctoral student at the School of Physics and Engineering of the Australian National University, in a statement.
The future of augmented reality does not mean that mobile phones and tablets will be the only places for augmented reality. Research on adding augmented reality functions to contact lenses and other wearable devices continues. The ultimate goal of augmented reality is to create a convenient and natural immersion, so there is a feeling that mobile phones and tablets will be replaced, although it is not clear what these substitutes will be. Even glasses may have new forms, because "smart glasses" are developed for the blind.
Like any new technology, AR has many political and moral problems. For example, Google Glass raises privacy issues. Some people worry that the conversation may be secretly recorded or filmed, or that it may be recognized by face recognition software. AR glasses, contact lenses, etc. , such as Glass-X and Google Glass, have made progress in production and sales.
Supplementary report by Alina Bradford, a life science writer.
Additional resources
Google:One Line- TechCrunch, the first cross-platform collaboration AR application (Graffiti): The edge of real VR/AR growth: Vuzix Blade AR glasses are the next generation of Google glasses, and we are all waiting for Forbes: How does AR earn one billion dollars now?