Augmented Reality.

AR has long sounded like a wild, futuristic concept, but the technology has been around for years. It may not be as exciting as a virtual reality roller coaster ride, but the technology is proving itself as a very useful tool in our everyday lives.

Have you tried to catch Pokemons in recent years or to fit furniture in your room via IKEA app? That’s AR, and it has more far reaching areas of potential use. It is still in development and multiple engineers and tech companies around the world are working to enhance it. In the meantime, let’s find out what is Augmented Reality, and let’s start with this vision by Magic Leap. Exciting! From social media filters to surgical procedures, AR is rapidly growing in popularity because it brings elements of the virtual world, into our real world, thus enhancing the things we see, hear, and feel.

Actually What is AR?

AR is all about superimposing computer-generated images on top of your view of reality, thus creating a composite view that augments the real world.The term itself was coined back in 1990, and one of the first commercial uses were in television and military. With the rise of Internet and smartphones, AR rolled out its second wave and nowadays is mostly related to an interactive concept. 3D models are directly projected onto physical things or fused together in real-time, various augmented reality apps impact our habits, social life and entertainment industry.AR apps run the gamut from interactive map overlays and virtual showrooms to massive multiplayer skirmishes. More and more ARKit apps are rolling out on Apple’s iOS and on Android.

AR apps typically connect digital animation to a special ‘marker’, or with the help of GPS in phones pinpoint the location. Augmentation is happening in real time and within context of the environment, for example overlaying scores to a live feed sport events.There are 4 types of augmented reality today:

  • Markerless AR
  • Marker-based AR
  • Projection-based AR
  • Superimposition-based AR

Marker-based AR

Some also call it image recognition, as it requires a special visual object and a camera to scan it. It may be anything, from a printed QR code to special signs. The AR device also calculates the position and orientation of a marker to position the content, in some cases. Thus, a marker initiates digital animations for users to view, and so images in a magazine may turn into 3D models.

Markerless AR

Markerless AR A.k.a. location-based or position-based augmented reality, that utilizes a GPS, a compass, a gyroscope and an accelerometer to provide data based on user’s location. This data then determines what AR content you find or get in a certain area. With the availability of smartphones this type of AR typically produces maps and directions, nearby businesses info. Applications include events and information, business ads pop-ups, navigation support.

Projection-based AR

Projecting synthetic light to physical surfaces, and in some cases allows to interact with it. These are the holograms we have all seen in sci-fi movies like Star Wars. It detects user interaction with a projection by its alterations.

Superimposition-based AR

Replaces the original view with an augmented, fully or partially. Object recognition plays a key role, without it the whole concept is simply impossible. We’ve all seen the example of superimposed augmented reality in IKEA Catalog app, that allows users to place virtual items of their furniture catalog in their rooms.

How does it work?

The augmented reality is concealed information, recently it was used in the advertising of a car and football boot as it makes a 3D render of a product. This permit the customer to get a 360-degree picture of a product, as per the quality of augmentation this can go as far as viewing the size of the product and also permits the customer to wear the item as viewed through their phone. With the avail of a mobile app, a mobile phone’s camera identifies and renders a marker which is often a black and white barcode picture. The software analysis the marker and make a virtual picture on the device screen. It explains that the app works with the camera to render the angle and distance.

Augmented reality is another step towards the development of the digital world and it has the excellent features which have everyone lives more secure and informative. With the advancement in augmented reality, people will be no longer able to find the difference between real and virtual and the world will become a combination of digital media as well as physical media.

Author : Vineesha Vasamsetti
Source : ThinkMobiles.com,Studymafia.org

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