Monday, 3 March 2014

Augmented Reality – For Enhanced Viewing Experience

Since introduction of Pong in 1970s, video games have never failed to entertain us. With more than four decades gone by, computer-generated graphics have become much improved to continuously push the boundary of photorealism way further. Now the researchers and engineers are integrating digitalized display into real-life environments. This new technology, through which the developers are trying their best to change our perception of the difference between what’s real and what’s virtual, is known as augmented reality.

It’s different from virtual reality

AR, way different from virtual reality, simulates elements in real-world environment through augmentation of virtual imageries. In other words, AR is meant to take your virtually created visual delight closest to the real-world experience. The technology adds a layer of digitally produced images, sounds, videos, haptic feedbacks and even smell on the physical objects. Superimposition is done with such a high level of subtlety that the viewers forget to differentiate between reality and virtual components. This avant-garde technology now finds an optimum use in gaming and entertainment industry.

Virtual reality is defined as something that inspires the users to participate in completely engrossing computer-generated areas (often referring to mixed reality setups). AR is a different concept in the sense that it allows overlapping of physical-world components by digital elements with an objective to present an augmented vision. Unfortunately, augmented reality and virtual reality are often used interchangeably. However, with relentless research on gesture-based interfaces, the difference between AR and VR is becoming increasingly irrelevant.

Cell phones adding popularity of AR

Apart from video games, proliferation of high-end mobiles, especially which run on iOS or Android platform, are forging a niche for AR and its massive-sacle application. Why to mention only about the entertainment world? AR-driven apps benefit everyone from the soldiers, drivers to tourists, students and anyone else who is looking for accurate information in innovative, interesting, interactive and digitalized format on mobile sets. Continuous development in this field of technology has almost forced us to change our perception about the surroundings.

With Augmented reality apps, you can see yourself driving or walking along a picturesque road anywhere in this world. Or won’t it give you Goosebumps after viewing yourself in hunt for dinosaurs? Remembering the magic effect in Jurassic Park, aren’t you? Now you have got a little hang of AR. However, how it works is beyond the limit of this article. AR display devices resemble a normal pair of glasses and project informative graphics in the field of your view. Audio will also match whatever you are watching, thus imitating real-world picture and sound.


Augmented version of reality enriches your experience. Apart from treating you to a new and immersive kind of visual experience, AR-based applications also provide accurate information on real-time basis. For example, a pilot wearing a specially designed helmet can get to know the altitude of his current position, exact location of enemy basement and other details which are very crucial for any fighter pilot on his mission. The car drivers can view the direction to his destination, shortest route possible to reach there, news about traffic jam etc. All details are continuously refreshed to avoid dishing out stale information.  

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