Augmented reality sounds like something straight out of Sci-fi. It has been used in several movies to depict advanced technology. If we break down augmented reality, it’s adding a layer of visual elements over reality. AR technology is used to enhance reality in numerous ways.

AR tech relies on visuals, sound, and other sensory elements to enhance reality. Augmented reality is a growing trend among game development, computing, and other companies. 

In this guide, we’ll go over augmented reality, how it works, AR applications, and more. 

Brief History of Augmented Reality

Augmented reality goes as far back as 1968. It was invented by Ivan Sutherland’s development of the first head-mounted display system. However, the term “augmented reality” wasn’t coined until 1990. 

Since the inception of AR technology, various advancements have been made in the field. It has very well reshaped how we see content today. 

The most significant example of AR applications in everyday life is Snapchat filters. Snapchat filters add a layer of virtual content on your face or change the background. 

Some crucial developments in the field of AR include:

• Ivan Sutherland and Bob Sproull developed the first head-mounted display in 1968.
• Myron Krueger built “The Video Place” in 1975, an artificial reality lab. The mission of the lab was to project human figures onto screens. 
• In 1980, Steve Mann developed the first portable computer you could use while looking inside it. He called it the “Eye Tap.”
• Douglas George and Robert Morris developed the first heads-up display in 1987. It displayed astronomical data over the real sky. This allowed pilots to fly in cloudy and dark conditions without eye fatigue.
• Thomas Caudell and David Mizell coined the term Augmented Reality in 1990.
• Frank Delgado and Mike Abernathy’s team created a navigation system that could generate runways and street data from helicopter video in 1999.
• In 2000, Japanese Scientist Hirokazu Kato developed ARToolKit, an open-source SDK that works with Photoshop and Illustrator to create 3D graphics on your screen. 
• In 2008, Wikitude, a company specializing in AI and VR tech, created an Android app called AR Travel Guide.
• In 2013, Google Glass was launched. The glasses allow gamers to wear augmented reality goggles to play games and simultaneously pay attention to the real world. 

How Augmented Reality Works

AR tech can display visual, sound, and other sensory elements on numerous screens, glasses, handheld devices, smartphones, and headsets. 

To correctly show information on the screen, it calculates the orientation and position of surrounding objects. 

Some AR techs have depth sensors, accelerometers, cameras, gyroscopes, and light sensors. All these sensors work in synergy to judge the surroundings and present virtual information on devices in real-time. 

Difference Between AR, VR and MR

People often interchange the terms Augmented reality and Virtual reality, but both technologies are different and have different purposes. 

Augmented reality adds a virtual overlay to a real-life environment. The user can easily interact with both real-world and virtual elements at the same time. The real-world information is enhanced with virtual data and information. 

AR tech is easy to get hands-on. Anyone can download AR apps and experience the tech first-hand. 

Virtual reality, on the other hand, is an entirely virtual world. A user is completely immersed in the virtual, computer-generated world and cannot see the real world. 

VR Goggles stimulate real-life-like experiences by bombarding the senses with visual or auditory stimulation. Unlike AR, you need special devices to experience virtual reality.

As the name suggests, mixed reality combines AR and VR tech. MR tech allows digital objects to interact with the real world. They are explicitly designed to be anchored to the real environment.

Types of Augmented Reality

4 types of augmented reality are the most famous and most used. Let’s break them down one by one:

1. Marker-based AR

Market-based AR is the most used type. Also known as image recognition requires a marker (photo, QR code, some object, or something else) to initiate AR.

Marker-based AR services will use your device’s camera to scan the market and calculate the overlay’s position. The market is always static, which allows users to move around and inspect the object in three dimensions. 

2. Markerless AR

Marker-less augmented reality does not need a market to initiate or to show animation. 

The placement of the animation (virtual object) is based on the user’s real physical environment. To detect and correctly map surroundings requires better technology than marker-based AR. Most markerless AR tech utilizes GPS or compasses. They’re also called “location-based AR”, as they add information based on a specific area. 

3. Projection-based AR

Projection-based AR projects virtual elements into the real world. It uses synthetic light to show visuals on real-life surfaces. 

Most of the time, projection-based AR can be interactive. Some examples include a digital keyboard and Pokemon Go. Some projection-based AR are also non-interactive. 

Those projections look like holograms, which can be observed in 3 dimensions. 

4. Superimposition-based AR

Superimposition-based AR swaps part of a real-world element with an augmented one. Object recognition is a crucial part of superimposition-based AR, as the device has to recognize what object is in front to show the AR animation. 

The most common use case of this type of AR tech is medicine. Doctors see the X-ray view of a patient’s broken bone in the real image; some solutions help locate the veins better.

Applications of Augmented Reality

AR tech has tons of use cases. It has made its way into almost every part of our lives. Let’s go over some examples of AR applications and their use cases:

#1. AR in Gaming and Entertainment

Augmented reality has been a part of gaming and entertainment for a long time. AR can do it all, from improving the experience of live performances to creating interactive user experiences. 

The best example of AR in gaming and entertainment has to be Pokemon Go. An AR interactive game that lets users capture Pokemon in the real world. Using your phone’s camera, the app adds a layer of virtual reality to real life. 

Users can use their cameras to search for Pokemon and capture them. It became an instant sensation when the game hit the market two years ago. 

#2. AR in Healthcare and Medicine

AR has well and truly revolutionized the healthcare industry. With the integration of AR, specific parts of AR have become more efficient and effective. 

Surgeons now use AR to get real-time guidance during complication procedures. Medical colleges have also included AR to give students a more immersive experience. 

Moreover, AR could be used to create virtual models of organs and the whole body. This allows doctors to gain a better understanding of anatomy.

#3. AR in Retail and E-commerce

AR application in retail has changed the way we shop. The retail industry has always sought new things to keep customers engaged. Augmented reality helps them create an interactive work experience. 

AR in retail involves superimposing computer-generated images onto the user’s reality. By doing so, customers can view how a particular item would look in their home. Customers can try out shoes, clothes, and glasses at home. 

Challenges and Limitations

AR is not all ice cream and cakes. There are some limitations of AR that you should know before adopting it wholeheartedly:

1. Content Creation is Tough

Creating 3D content is SUPER difficult. Making a 3D replica of a real-life object takes too long. Moreover, it’s not something that novices can do. Someone only with significance can create AR content with ease. 

Plus, it's costly to create 3D models, especially if you want to buy pre-built 3D models. 

2. Smart Glasses Aren’t Great

If you compare AR headsets with VR headsets, you’ll realize how far behind AR headsets are. None of the AR smart glasses/headsets have hit the mark. All of them are significantly niche use, and the price tag isn’t just worth it. 

Reasons to avoid AR smart glass:

• They’re bulky and intrusive
• Field of View is limited
• Too expensive for the average consumer
• Unforeseen retinal issues

3. Mobile AR Needs Improvement

Due to the limited availability of AR headsets, most of the AR industry has started focusing more on mobile AR.

But running AR apps on your device consumes too much battery. Plus, there’s a lack of z-depth perception, which makes it tough to place virtual objects in the real world. 

Future Trends in Augmented Reality

AR is still an evolving domain and can be the “it” tech of the future. So, what can we expect from AR tech in the years to come? 

We expect AR to become a more familiar technology for the average consumer. When technology evolves, it will become more affordable and easily accessible. 

AR will also impact how we currently interact with people around the world. With 5G internet, AR can provide high-res information in real time. 

AR in the Metaverse

Metaverse and AR often come into the same conversation. Both Metaverse and AR tech can completely change the digital world. But can these technologies work in synergy to shape the future?

Metaverse is a completely digital universe that exists online. AR, on the other hand, enhances reality by adding visual elements to real life. 

The technologies don’t seem to co-exist as they serve opposite purposes. 

Bottom Line

Augmented reality is a really cool concept, and it needs to be fleshed out more before we can call it the technology of tomorrow. It can enhance a user’s experience and shift their perspective. 

It has excellent applications in retail, education, healthcare, and entertainment. It can be an ideal solution for emerging businesses who want to provide an all-inclusive shopping experience.