Augmented reality is a new and quickly growing trend in media. It allows users to place virtual objects such as text, video, and graphics into their real-world environments, making them better understand their surroundings. This information can help solve problems and make tasks more accessible to those with visual impairments or other disabilities. The most popular tools for the job are Google Glasses and Samsung Gear VR headsets. However, these are only the tip of a very large iceberg of augmented reality applications that will soon change society forever.
In the early 1990s, a number of companies began creating head-mounted displays. The first commercially available head-mounted display was the View-Master, which was released in 1939. In 1974, ARPANET researcher Ivan Sutherland developed a prototype of the head-mounted display called the IMAGE 2000. Similar prototypes were created by other researchers as well, including NASA and Nintendo Research & Technology labs. In 1986, Steve Mann made and wore the first wearable computer capable of making 3D scans in real-time which led to his demonstration at the SIGGRAPH '87 conference that virtual reality would one day be possible.
Google Glass is a simple eyepiece that can be worn like a pair of glasses. The device has a built-in camera, removable storage, and an integrated speaker. It also has sensors for GPS and accelerometer data. Commands are given through voice control or via "cards." These cards include the current time and weather, the name of the song playing nearby, directions to one's hotel from one's current location, and video calls. Users will soon be able to get notifications about sports scores or stock prices using Google Glasses and there is no doubt that this technology will soon become even more advanced. Google has stated that it envisions users to be able to interact with a whole new world of information that will be on hand at all times. The interface is simple and straightforward making it easy for the non-technical person to use Google Glasses.
Samsung's Gear VR headset contains a high definition, 5.7-inch screen that streams content from smartphones or PCs and is controlled through a touchpad and buttons located on either side of the headset. This is the closest thing to a computer that you can bring to your home and it works with Samsung Galaxy smartphones, although the company has stated that they are also in talks with Google about using Android phones. While this is a much simpler version of Google Glass, there are still many features that are lacking and it is not as easy to use.
There are many other devices on the market that are similar to Samsung's Gear VR headset. Examples include the Reflect VR, which uses mirrors instead, and CmoarVR,
which allows you to see your surroundings through two invisible screens. The way that these devices are going to be used in the future is by being able to scan and reconstruct 3D models of real-world environments.
3D printers have been around for a long time now and are becoming more advanced all the time. The most commonly seen designs are for plastic things such as toys, but there is no limit on what can be made. The biggest problems with 3D printing are the speed at which they operate, the cost of materials, and poor quality. While these devices do have a lot of potentials, they currently seem to be more expensive than they are worth considering that you could buy a similar product in a store for less money.
Augmented reality can be used to incorporate 3D printers and laser cutters into the physical world. Both of these types of machines use lasers to cut or etch different materials. Lasers can be used to make any shape out of any material and both devices are not limited to working with one type of material. When combined with 3D printing, laser cutters are capable of not just cutting existing models, but also making them from scratch. This means that you can now bring your dream house into the real world for a fraction of the cost it would have taken previously without having to sacrifice quality.
Augmented reality can also be used in the medical world to help those with visual impairments. Those with poor eyesight will be able to get a pair of glasses that will project information such as what a sign says, the name of a song that is playing, current time and weather, and even turn every person into a walking 3D model. Augmented reality will not just be limited to optical devices, but also include auditory enhancers for those who have hearing problems. Those who are deaf or hard of hearing can get smart earbuds that are capable of translating foreign languages in real-time using Google Translate or other similar programs.
Augmented reality may even be used to make virtual reality become more accessible. Many people have been skeptical of virtual reality because having a helmet over your face is not always convenient. AR can be used to make virtual worlds blend into your actual surroundings making VR truly immersive and allowing you to see the world in a whole new way.
There are no limits to what augmented reality can do for society. It can change the way that we interact with the physical world and how we view it entirely. Who knows, maybe one day we will have holographic displays everywhere that will provide us with directions, information, or anything else that we want with a simple glance at them. Augmented reality is the future and it will not be long before it has changed the way that we work, play, and live.
