Augmented Reality (AR) technology enhances a user’s perception of the real world by overlaying digital information on top of it. This can be done in real-time using a device such as a smartphone or tablet with a camera, or through specialized headsets like the HoloLens or Magic Leap.
AR can be divided into two categories: marker-based and markerless. Marker-based AR uses specific visual markers, such as QR codes, to trigger the overlay of digital information. Markerless AR, on the other hand, uses features of the environment, such as surfaces or objects, to determine where to overlay digital information.
AR technology is used in a wide range of applications, including:
- Gaming: AR games use the real world as a backdrop and overlay digital characters or objects on top of it, creating a more immersive gaming experience.
- Education: AR can be used to enhance learning by providing students with interactive, visual information related to the topic being studied.
- Industrial maintenance: AR can be used to provide workers with real-time information and instructions when performing maintenance on complex machinery.
- Retail: AR can be used to provide customers with virtual try-on options for clothing or makeup, or to provide more information about a product.
- Entertainment: AR can be used to create immersive experiences in theme parks, concerts and other events.
AR technology is still in its early stages, but is expected to become more prevalent in the future as the technology improves and becomes more widely available.