Augmented Reality

AUGMENTED REALITY

WHAT IS AUGMENTED REALITY?

Augmented reality (AR) is a live, direct or indirect, view of a physical, real-world environment whose elements are augmented by computer - generated sensory input such as sound, video, graphics or GPS data.

It is related to a more general concept called mediated reality, in which a view of reality is modified by a computer.

The technology functions by enhancing one’s current perception of reality. Virtual reality replaces the real world with a simulated one. Augmentation is conventionally a semantic context with environmental elements, such as sports scores on TV during a match. With the help of advanced AR technology) the information about the surrounding real world of the user becomes interactive and digitally manipulable.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AUGMENTED REALITY AND VIRTUAL REALITY?

The difference between augmented reality and virtual reality is the level of immersion. Virtual reality is based upon a complete simulation of a real world environment which the user can explore and interact with by means of a head mounted display (HMD) and input device, e.g. data glove.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AUGMENTED REALITY AND VIRTUAL REALITY? The user loses or immerses themselves in this environment.

But with augmented reality the user sees the real world but with the addition of computer generated images which are overlaid on various objects within the real world. They are still aware that they are in the real world as compared to the full immersion in a virtual world.

They use a device such as a smartphone or a wearable device - complete with a webcam which contains software that recognises an image and helps displays this onto an object.

HOW AUGMENTED REALITY IS TAKING OVER VIRTUAL REALITY?

Virtual reality replaces the real with the artificial whereas augmented reality enhances real life with artificial images. Augmented reality is available in particular smartphones such as the iPhone and Android.

These phones have GPRS which obtains information about a particular geographical location which can be overlaid with tags etc. Images, videos etc can be imposed onto this location.

HOW AUGMENTED REALITY IS TAKING OVER VIRTUAL REALITY? Handheld devices such as smartphones and the iPad are

other ways to use augmented reality. They contain software, sensors, a compass and small digital projectors which display images onto real world objects.

An important issue is that of successfully integrating computer generated images within the real world is that they need to be realistic and useful to be of real benefit to the user and thus Augmented reality is taking over virtual reality.

APPLICATIONS OF AUGMENTED REALITY

EDUCATION

Augmented reality applications can complement a standard curriculum. Text, graphics, video and audio can be superimposed into a student’s real time environment. Textbooks, flashcards and other educational reading material can contain embedded “markers” that, when scanned by an AR device, produce supplementary information to the student rendered in a multimedia format.


AR can help industrial designers experience a product's design and operation before completion. Volkswagen uses AR for comparing calculated and actual crash test imagery. AR can be used to visualize and modify a car body structure and engine layout.

INDUSTRIAL DESIGN


Augmented Reality can provide the surgeon with information, which are otherwise hidden, such as showing the heartbeat rate, the blood pressure, the state of the patient’s organ, etc. AR can be used to let a doctor look inside a patient by combining one source of images such as an X-ray with another such as video.

MEDICAL


AR can augment the effectiveness of navigation devices. Information can be displayed on an automobile's windshield indicating destination directions and meter, weather, terrain, road conditions and traffic information as well as alerts to potential hazards in their path.

NAVIGATION

AUGMENTED REALITY IN CELLPHONES.

A user displays the augmented reality app Yelp’s Monocle, which combines the phone’s camera view with tiny tags indicating the names, distances and user ratings of nearby bars, restaurants and more.

AUGMENTED REALITY IN CELLPHONES. While it may be some time before you buy a device like

SixthSense, more primitive versions of augmented reality are already here as applications for the iPhone and phones with Android OS.

In the Netherlands, cell phone owners can download an application called Layar that uses the phone's camera & GPS capabilities to gather information about the surrounding area. It then shows information about restaurants or other sites in the area, their ratings and reviews.

There are other augmented reality apps out there for the iPhone and many more in development. Urbanspoon has much of the same functionality as Yelp's Monocle. Then there's Wikitude, which finds information from Wikipedia about sites in the area.

HOW AUGMENTED REALITY ACTUALLY WORKS? The webcam connected to your computer is capturing video

in the traditional manner . When you hold the “marker” in front of the webcam it sees the marker, captures the information / pattern encoded in it and sends this information to the computer.

The computer recognises the information and overlays the marker with an image. To the viewer it appears as though the image has materialised by magic. The computer can track the size and movement of the image. This means if you move the marker closer to the webcam the image will get bigger. If you tilt the marker to the left, the image will tilt to the left.

This process is similar to sports telecasts seen on television, such as swimming events, where a line is dynamically added across the lanes to indicate the virtual position of the current record holder as a race proceeds.

FUTURE OF AUGMENTED REALITY People may not want to rely on their cell phones, which have

small screens on which to superimpose information. For that reason, wearable devices like Sixth Sense or augmented-reality capable contact lenses and glasses will provide users with more convenient, expansive views of the world around them. Screen real estate will no longer be an issue.

You may be able to play a real-time strategy game on your computer, or you can invite a friend over, put on your AR glasses or AR lenses, and play on the table top in front of you. The future of augmented reality is clearly bright, even as it already has found its way into our cell phones and video game systems. Real time data will be streamed to us about everything we see, smell, hear and touch. We will be able to interact with this data in order to make more informed decisions.

CONCLUSION Augmented reality will further blur the line

between what's real and what's computer-generated by enhancing what we see, hear, feel and smell.

THANK YOU

Augmented Reality

Technology