What is Augmented Reality?

What is augmented reality? Have you ever imagined the world that we are living in right now magically enhanced with digital elements? 

Well, that’s the basic and core idea behind the groundbreaking augmented reality, a technology that blurred the lines between physical and digital realms.

So, what is augmented reality? And what can we do using this kind of technology? Let’s get going and dive deeper into the magical world of augmented reality!

What is Augmented Reality?

To put it simply, augmented reality (AR) is the integration of digital information with the user’s environment in real time.

What AR does is not about replacing the real world, but instead it overlays a computer generated information and graphics onto our actual surroundings, thus creating an interactive experience.

History of AR

Even though the AR has only emerged and bloomed in recent years, the roots of this innovation stretch back further than you might think.

Circa the 1960s, a period with massive technological breakthroughs, the concept of AR was coined with the invention of “Sword of Damocles” by a computer scientist named Ivan Sutherland.

This invention, although impractical, is considered the first attempt at creating an AR experience.

So fast forward in time, in the 1990 to be exact, a researcher at Boeing named Thomas P. Caudell officially invented the term “augmented reality” to describe a system which a layer of virtual information is placed onto the user’s workspace.

The 90’s might be the best year of AR, marked with the development of the first functional AR systems named “Virtual Fixture” that were developed by Louis Rosenberg at the U.S Air Force Research Laboratory.

The Virtual Fixture’s first mission was to enhance human performance in telerobotics.

With the 90s has passed, it just makes the further development and improvement of AR. With devices like head-mounted displays and AR glasses, although these devices are bulky and expensive, this device has sparked a new flame for AR application.

And up to this day, the improvement of AR is still going on, with the arrival of powerful smartphones also brings a new home to AR. Who will ever forget the excitement and hype of the game “Pokemon Go” when it was first released?

Augmented Reality (AR) vs Virtual Reality (VR)

Many of you may be confused with these two things and often mistaken it for the same thing. In reality, although similar, AR and VR have a few key differences.

Virtual reality replaces your entire field of view with a computer-generated simulation. To put it simply, virtual reality makes you look into a completely different virtual world that you can explore and interact with.

While augmented reality is quite different. AR enhances your world by putting digital information, graphics or even interactive elements onto your surroundings. Well, imagine seeing a car in front of you through your screen.

The devices or tools that are required for both of them are also different.

You can experience AR through various devices, a “simple” things like smartphones, tablets and smart glasses can be used to bring you to the AR world.

Virtual reality on the other hand is a little bit more complicated, VR typically requires a device that completely covers your eyes and sometimes this includes additional components like hand controllers to interact with the VR world.

What AR Used For

Augmented reality is not a one-purpose-only technology, it has been used in different sectors from entertainment to military.

• Entertainment and Gaming: Pokemon Go is the prime example of implementation of AR in the world of gaming. Imagine exploring your surroundings but with Pokemon characters around you!
• Education and Learning: With the help of AR you can interact, explore and study historical landmarks in 3D. Besides that, AR also helps pilots to practice flying procedures in the virtual cockpit.
• Retail and Shopping: Want to buy something but too lazy to go to your favorite store? With AR you can see the furniture that you’ve been wishing for a long time.
• Military: AR can be used for military training. 

So these are a complete guide about augmented reality technology. The AR is still rapidly evolving even until now. 

With the advancements in technology we still can expect a lot of stuff to be implemented in AR technology.

So while waiting for those to come, I think it is cool to read about the SDPPI certification in Indonesia that can be used for the distribution of AR-related technology in Indonesia.

As a lot of AR devices use radio frequency technology, a certification is needed for the said devices to be sold or distributed here in Indonesia.

To read more about this subject, go check this link!