Augmented reality is the technology of the future, and the future is now. In short, augmented reality is a real time integration of computer-generated experiences overlayed on top of your real life surroundings. We can expect to see more of augmented reality in our day-to-day life with steady development and ground-breaking research on the horizon utilizing this technology. The following are a few places we can expect to see augmented reality applied in the near future.
EDUCATION
Imagine opening up your biology textbook, taking out your phone, and using both to get a complete picture of the lesson assigned. With augmented reality, this is not too far off in the future. Augmented reality will allow students to see models to understand complex concepts like never before. This is more than just seeing a picture or graphic in a text book, because augmented reality allows the student to interact with and better visualize the subject matter. Not to mention portability. It’s much easier to throw your phone in a backpack than it is a DNA model.
ONLINE SHOPPING AND E-COMMERCE
Online virtual fitting rooms? They are already here, and the experience is improving day-by-day as technology advances. This process will most likely include a live stream video of yourself in the “dressing room” of your favorite store and overlaying the clothing you want to “try on” over top your video or image.
A much smaller scale of this application is already in the works on Zenni Optical’s website. Customers can simply upload a photo of themselves and “try on” different frames on the website before purchasing.
TRAVEL
Walking through The Louvre and hiking the Machu Picchu are both notable experiences on their own, but even more so when you include augmented reality into the experience. It won’t be long before tourists and travelers have the ability to pull up live displays and facts at museums and see figures at historic destinations. The best part? This technology will eventually be accessible by your every-day smartphone.
SMARTPHONES
We already have smartphone apps that are utilizing augmented reality. A mobile app called “Seek” utilizes augmented reality to create an experience of real time, location-based treasure hunting where users can win prizes from brands like Nike and Amazon. When the user comes upon a treasure chest, the app uses the phone’s camera to superimpose a chest over their surroundings. Users then virtually “open” the chest to claim their prize.
Mobile apps like Seek are not the end of augmented reality on our smart phones. In fact, it’s just the beginning of augmented reality at our fingertips via our smartphones. Apple has big plans for augmented reality and various applications of the technology.
To learn more about Seek and how the app utilizes augmented reality, visit our website here.