What is augmented reality (AR)?

In recent years, terms like augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and assisted reality have become increasingly part of our daily lives. These technologies are blurring the lines between the physical and digital worlds. In this blog, we answer the question: what exactly is augmented reality? We'll also discuss the various applications and available augmented reality glasses for those who want to experience AR for themselves.

Augmented reality is a technology that overlays a digital layer onto the physical world, enhancing it with virtual objects, sounds, or information. Famous movie examples of AR can be seen in Minority Report and Iron Man, where characters see information projections in front of them providing real-time data. With an AR headset or device, you can experience such a digital layer over the real world.

AR does not provide a completely virtual environment like virtual reality (VR) does, but adds digital elements to what you already see. It is a blend of real and digital worlds, merging to create a richer experience.

Although the terms augmented reality and virtual reality are often confused, they are very different. With VR, the user is fully immersed in a computer-controlled environment that blocks out the real world. VR creates an enclosed, virtual world in which you can move around and interact with objects.

AR keeps the real world intact

With augmented reality, however, you remain connected to the real world. AR technology adds digital elements, such as 3D objects or information, without the physical environment disappearing from sight. Through AR glasses, you can continue to see the world around you, supplemented with a virtual layer that allows for additional context or interaction.

Application possibilities of augmented reality

Augmented reality offers a wide range of applications, from entertainment to industrial use. Here are some of the most common examples of how AR is used.

Gaming and entertainment

AR has caused breakthroughs in gaming, with notable examples like Pokémon GO, where players can catch Pokémon that appear in their real environment. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery also offers an immersive AR experience, allowing players to cast spells and interact with characters from the magical world

In business and the educational sector, AR is increasingly being used for training and technical support. With AR glasses, employees can receive instructions for performing quality checks or complex technical tasks. AR also adds value to medical training, allowing virtual anatomical models to be projected onto the real body, for example.

Informative apps and navigation

Several apps offer informative layers that add extra context to the physical world thanks to AR. The Star Walk app helps users identify constellations by overlaying a virtual layer onto the night sky. Apps like Layar collect location data to display information about restaurants and attractions in the user's vicinity.

Creative applications like AR coloring books

Disney has developed an AR coloring book where children can see their colored characters transform into 3D avatars on a screen. This provides a fun and interactive experience that stimulates creativity.

Advancements in augmented reality technology

While AR is often seen as a futuristic technology, the concept has been in development for decades. One of the earliest examples of AR technology was the heads-up display in military aircraft, which provided pilots with crucial information about speed, direction, and targets as early as the 1990s.

Development of AR by major companies

Since then, various companies and research institutes have made great strides. In 2009, the MIT Media Lab introduced the SixthSense, an innovative device that used a camera, a projector, and a smartphone to project digital information onto objects. Later, Google introduced Google Glass, a headset that offered AR capabilities by projecting information onto the glasses. Although Google Glass is no longer on the market, other companies like Apple, Microsoft, and Huawei continue to develop AR.

The future of augmented reality

The development of augmented reality is not standing still. In addition to ongoing innovations in AR glasses like the Microsoft HoloLens 2, researchers are now also looking at the possibility of developing holograms that can be viewed by multiple people at the same time. Research is also being conducted into contact lenses with AR functionality and ultra-thin displays for even more subtle integration into our daily lives.

While research in the field of holography plays an important role in the development of futuristic displays and augmented reality devices, we are working today on many other applications, such as ultra-thin and lightweight optical devices for cameras and satellites.

The goal of these developments is to make AR as user-friendly and natural as possible, so that the technology provides added value to our daily lives. As companies continue to build on AR, the technology will increasingly align with personal and professional needs.

Buy AR glasses at Unbound XR

Want to get started with augmented reality? At Unbound XR, you can find a selection of AR glasses like the Microsoft HoloLens 2, the Magic Leap 2 and the Meta Quest 3 128GB. These headsets allow you to experience the physical and digital world in a new way and are ideal for professional use in various industries.

Questions? Contact us!

Do you have any questions about augmented reality or our collection of AR headsets? Feel free to contact us. We are here to help you find the AR solution that fits your needs.