How Far Can We Go with Augmented Reality?
The demand for better, faster and more powerful
technology mounts year by year, day by day.
And now, the real and digital worlds are merging
into one.
This is Unveiled, and today we’re answering
the extraordinary question; how far can we
go with augmented reality?
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The distinction between AR, augmented reality,
and VR, virtual reality, has never been more
important.
As AR developers stress, their tech doesn’t
involve closing yourself off from the outside
world for a solo experience.
Instead, it creates a ‘mixed reality’
blend of the real world with digital images,
holograms and projections designed to improve
your life.
Currently, there are four main types of AR:
marker-based, markerless, projection-based,
and superimposition-based - there are various
nuances between them, but they all aim for
a similar user experience.
You’re probably most familiar with AR through
your smartphone, and games like “Pokémon
Go!”.
The tech on mobile devices enables you to
do much more than just catch a Pikachu, though,
with QR codes also using it, and devices like
the Apple Watch and AirPods soon to be AR-enabled.
But smart glasses are usually the go-to gadget
whenever we’re imagining a fully-AR world.
Projects like the Google Glass have struggled
to truly catch on, and today’s AR headsets
tend to look a lot like VR models… transparent
lenses yes, but also bulky and impractical.
But, that’s all going to change between
now and 2030 - when designers believe we’ll
move from products like the Microsoft HoloLens
to prototypes as subtle as sunglasses, and
eventually even contact lens devices.
Combine these lenses with tiny earpieces (even
tinier than AirPods), and the user could almost
forget they’re even wearing them.
Going one step even further, the ultimate
aim is that all of these things are controlled
by our thoughts alone.
There are obvious benefits for gaming, some
of which we’ve already seen - with the likes
of “Pokémon Go!” earning praise for encouraging
gamers to get off the couch.
Traditional ‘open world’ games are usually
graded for the size and scope of the world
they create for their characters to exist
in.
But, with AR, the ‘maps’ are real-life
towns, cities, countries or even continents.
There are still some concerns (including increased
risk of physical injury, and whether or not
AR games are a disruption for anyone not playing
them), but augmented reality is increasingly
billed as the future of gaming.
AR is about more than just entertaining the
individual, though, with many real-world applications.
At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, officials are
hoping to make every sign in Tokyo translatable
to visitors through AR phones and devices.
A city-wide task, it’d represent massive
strides from previous language translation
apps, but could also pave the way for even
more impressive tech where AR users see real-time
translated subtitles (or hear real-time translated
dialogue) when talking to someone who speaks
a different language.
Similarly, developers are already working
on sophisticated caption options for deaf
users.
Elsewhere, AR aims for the betterment of humanity,
in the fields of science and medicine.
It could revolutionise healthcare, vastly
improving the training available to doctors
by enabling them to make diagnoses or learn
to carry out procedures on a digital model.
Even during surgery, an AR interface could
soon provide surgeons with potentially life-saving
information.
AR could also sub in for face-to-face consultations
with doctors, allowing patients to be examined
without leaving their homes, and reducing
wait times for appointments.
Engineers and architects also have reason
to be excited.
Complex structures like engines or motors
could soon be tested in an AR landscape first,
before expensive prototypes are built.
Likewise, architect blueprints look soon to
be outdated and replaced by enormous, true-to-life
digital models which clients can actually
‘walk’ through - to see exactly what the
building will look like before a single brick
is laid.
Various militaries already use AR tech, as
in the US Army’s Synthetic Training Environment
(or STE) program, which in-part prepares soldiers
for war.
But, we could soon see AR on the battlefield
itself, similarly to how it’s already used
by some military pilots.
The idea is to equip armies with digitally
enhanced heads-up displays, to provide them
with as much data as possible.
AR could soon be indispensable in teaching,
too.
Augmented reality as an educational tool would
mean fully-immersive lessons and, theoretically,
increased student engagement.
Imagine history class where kids can ‘walk’
the streets of Ancient Rome, then Victorian
London, then feudal Japan; Geography lessons
when instead of textbooks on the Himalayas,
you’re transported to the mountains themselves;
English lessons where you watch Shakespeare’s
plays as though sat in an Elizabethan audience;
or a science class which gives you the chance
to ‘stand’ on the moon and look back at
Earth.
Even field trips could be enhanced with AR
museum exhibits bringing the dinosaurs ‘back
to life’.
On a smaller scale, AR apps for everyday problems
are showing up more and more.
Builders, electricians and plumbers could
soon transport themselves into your homes
(hopefully with your permission) to identify
a problem and calculate a quote - with no
call-out charge.
Interior designers could, similar to architects,
build a digital version of your living room
for you to walk around in, before you commission
them to do the work.
Fitness apps could show you performance stats
at the top left of your vision, without you
needing to check your phone or watch.
And running, walking or even driving routes
could be laid out as if in front of you, so
that all you need to do is follow them.
Naturally, all of this potential does breed
various concerns - not least the emergence
of ‘AR addiction’.
Because, with everything available at literally
the blink of an eye, would we ever be able
to take the headsets off or take the contact
lenses out?
The collision of the real world and the digital
world seems inevitable, regardless.
And for better or worse, the environments
around us could one day become one enormous
screen loaded with endless information.
And that’s how far we can go with augmented
reality.
What do you think?
Is there anything we missed?
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