<20% Virtual + 80%< Real
Augmented Reality (AR) is a technology that overlays digital information—such as images, sounds, or other data—onto the real world in real-time. Imagine wearing glasses that show you directions right on the street in front of you or using your phone to see digital creatures interacting with your environment. It’s like having a digital layer on top of the physical world, enhancing what you see, hear, and interact with in everyday life.
On the technical side, AR relies on a combination of sensors, cameras, and software to recognize and map the physical environment. Devices like smartphones, tablets, and specialized AR headsets use these components to identify real-world objects and locations. Computer vision and machine learning algorithms analyze the data from the sensors to understand the user’s surroundings and place digital content accurately within that context. The software then renders the digital overlays in a way that seamlessly integrates with the real world, adjusting for changes in perspective, lighting, and movement.
How is AR different from VR?
Well, while VR (virtual reality) is almost entirely digitally created and generated content, AR typically puts individual items or callouts into your otherwise physical world (aka IRL). Sometimes these items are entirely digital and sometimes these items are anchored to and overlayed onto physical items to provide you with guidance or just as the foundation for mixed reality (MR).
For an early example of how AR is used by BMW from over a decade ago, see the video below.
For a peek at AR on the shop floor, watch the following video.
Keep in mind that both of the previous examples of AR-assisted work, could also be used to train as well.
Have an iPhone or iPad?
If you have purchased an Apple “Pro” mobile look-at device in the past 4 years, it probably has a “secret” tech you haven’t really been using. The iPad Pro and iPhone Pro now have LiDAR, which is the acronym for Light Detection and Ranging. Think “radar” but with light instead of radio waves.
When it first came out, it worked, but most folks didn’t really know what exactly to do with it. But it was certainly a “cool” technology. Watch this video to see how the camera system works and what it “sees” when it’s used.
Now, fast forward a few years, and there are now applications on these devices that make use of the camera system in some interesting ways. Some for pure entertainment, some for commercial use, and of course, some for educational purposes. For a quick look at some of these apps demonstrated, see this video below.