Augmented Reality the non-existence into existence

History and evolution of AR

Technology moves at lightning speed and people moves with it as they won’t like to miss a chance in making their lives easier, more comfortable with new inventions. There is one such technology that you can’t just pass by; is Augmented Reality (AR).

Augmented Reality is a technology, which can superimpose a computer-generated image on top of the view of real world. These images take the shape as 3D models, videos and information. Which creates a composite view of world that merges the real or reality with something that is not, making tasks easier and definitely more fun.

Though, we say AR, the newest technology it was first invented in 1968 with Ivan Sutherland’s development of first head-mounted display system. Over last 50 years, AR technology has remodeled the way we consume content in the real world, making its way into video games, testing situations for extreme jobs, and now in your pockets, yes to the mobile phone, marking its territory in fields of entertainment, military, engineering, robotics, manufacturing, education, medicine and much more.

How AR works

Augmented reality works in conjunction with headsets and/or digital devices such as tablets, smartphones and even PCs. The devices themselves contain software, sensors and digital projectors that trigger digital displays onto physical objects.  AR can be created and consumed in many different forms; as 2D images (Eg: - Google Glass), embeds 3D images (Eg: - Microsoft's HoloLens). The AR process uses a camera with "scanning mode" and all you need to do is, point the scanning camera at different objects in the real environment. Once the camera detects a ‘triggering’ object, a digital object onscreen will appear in the position of the target object.

Further, there are basically four main types to build AR applications. They are,

Marker-based AR

This is also called as image recognition or recognition-based AR. It detects or recognize the object in front of the camera. The recognition of the object is based on the marker where it replaces the marker on the screen with a 3D version of the corresponding object. While rotating the marker user can also rotate the 3D imagery as well.

Marker-less AR

This is also known as location-based AR and is the most widely implemented applications in industry. This method works by reading data from the mobile’s GPS, digital compass and accelerometer while predicting where the user is focusing.

Projection AR

Projection-based AR is appealing and interactive where light is blown onto a surface and the interaction is done by touching the projected surface with hand. This AR techniques can be used to create deception about the position, orientation, and depth of an object. so, this tech is used for creating a virtual object for much larger deployments for experiencing Augmented Reality.

Superimposition based AR

This is done by replacing the entire or partial view with an augmented view of the object. Here object recognition plays a vital role where replacing a view of an object with an augmented view is done.

AR vs Mixed Reality (MR) and Virtual Reality (VR)

Some can say that AR and VR is the same or AR and MR is the same. But, it’s not. Mixed reality lets users interact with virtual holograms and real objects within their physical world. Mixed reality is said to anchor virtual objects to a point in real space, making it possible to treat them as ‘real’ from the perspective of the person using MR devices.

AR is also not to be confused with VR, which is a fully immersive experience for the user without interaction of the physical world around them. VR is a computer-generated simulation of 3D images or an environment that can be interacted with by the user in a seemingly real way through the aid of a headset and/or gloves, but it’s essentially quite an isolating experience.    

            

Today AR is a very active field, and future can be bright with more exciting new developments. As computer vision gets better at understanding the world around us, AR experiences will become more immersive and exciting, bringing AR experiences into our day to day lives making life easier and interactively fun.