Executive Summary:

Augmented reality is our real world reality augmented by technology.  This could be a very simple augmentation that we can hardly perceive, or something that changes the very essence in which we interact with the world.  This emerging technology is already starting to show up in many facets of our lives and will soon be invading on a much larger scale.  This will change the way we navigate our roads, compare prices at the store, and even interact with our flesh and blood friends.  -By Nick True

Example of Existing Augmented Reality:

The IPhone already has a functional AR (Augmented Reality) program called ‘Nearest Tube’ developed by Acrossair.  This program uses the IPhone camera, internal compass, and GPS tracking to show you where the nearest subway lines (tubes) or stations are in England.  When you point your IPhone to the ground, you see that patch of ground on your screen thanks to the camera.  Then, with the help of the internal compass and GPS tracking, the subway tunnels are overlaid on the real world picture of the ground on your IPhone, those ones out of the frame are represent by arrows pointing in their direction.  When you tilt your IPhone up to the horizon, instantly the nearest real world station is highlighted and pointed out if it is in view, if it is not, an arrow in the sky will appear pointing to it.  Then as you walk toward the station, you are given turn by turn directions in real-time.  Check out the video demonstration here.  Gone are the days of 2-D maps!

Another example of AR using the IPhone includes the application Wikitude.  This app works very similar to ‘Nearest Tube’ except when you look at a national monument, of point of interest through your IPhone camera it gives you information on that physical landmark that is gathered from internet sources such as Wikipedia.  So if you are in Berlin, you can point your IPhone toward the Reichstag and the application will use the IPhone hardware its internet connection to identify the Reichstag.   The application will then gather and display relevant information such as history, what it is used for, and other useful facts right along side the real-world image.

Personal AR products on the Horizon (or maybe just my wishful thinking):

Now, all these products I am about to mention are in their extreme early infancy stage, if not still on the drawing board.  The big goal for AR in the next five to ten years is personal, fully incorporated devices that are so integrated into our personal lives that we hardly know that they are there.  One vision includes using personal micro projectors (picture to left) to project images and information directly onto the cornea.  Images can then be displayed along real world physical objects.  This coupled with a micro computer and advanced camera can create limitless possibilities.

One possible application of this that I can foresee includes Facebook integration.  Imagine this: you are walking down the street and see an acquaintance that you do not remember too well.  The camera of your AR unit can quickly scan your acquaintance’s face.  The micro-computer will then cross reference facial data with your Facebook friend’s list.  The projector will then project that person’s Facebook profile data directly onto your cornea (so that only you can see it), voila, you now have all the information you need to remember this person.  Not only that, but other photos of them in social situations you may be familiar with can be displayed to the right of their real world body, putting how you know this person into perspective for you.

Other possible applications with this system include:

• Road hazards are highlighted on the windshield of a car before a driver can even see it, and an audible alarm is given to the driver.
• More information about what you are seeing: a word you are not familiar with in a physical book can be selected–a definition and other cross-referential information will be displayed.
• A song you are listening to can be identified and artist, album, and other information would be displayed
• When looking at a physical business or store, information will be displayed such as its website, store hours, menu, prices, and offerings would be displayed.
• An interactive number pad being projected on your hand so that you can dial your friend without ever removing your phone from your pocket.  See title picture from HowStuffWorks.

Last Thoughts

The future of Augmented Reality is extremely exciting, albeit a bit uncertain and hard to predict.  With Augmented Reality we will hopefully be able to augment every aspect of our life with more data relevant to the physical world around us and increased usability of the technology that already is so integrated in our lives.  Technology is constantly striving to become more integrated within our lives, and AR is the next natural step. At its most successful AR will become a sixth sense of sort, an ability we have without actually noticing its presence.

Last Links:

Nearest Tube by Accrossair

Augmented Reality on Wikipedia

How AR reality will work on howstuffworks.com

Wikitude by Mobilizy and Imprint