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What is Augmented Reality? (And what can be done for my business?)
Augmented reality, by definition, is any point of view a real-world physical environment whose elements are augmented by the virtual images generated by computer. This is a fairly broad definition that includes a large number of small categories.
Augmented reality is a technology that is expanding very rapidly and has expanded beyond most people think. There have been major advances in technology, including miniaturization and development, however there are still some weaknesses and difficulties still have been resolved.
When people think of augmented reality, they tend to think in a futuristic heads-up displays that can instantly provide information on any object you see, and help direct the user interactions with reality, as seen in Terminator movies Iron Man
However, mobile technologies, digital cameras, cutting edge software developers, and the power of public source information has helped build a new generation augmented reality applications is pushing the limits of technology and creating new tools for individuals and companies committing each other.
This has transformed augmented reality bulky hardware configurations in small applications that run on smartphones common personal computers and Internet applications. We no longer need glasses bulky, awkward settings, or hardware of the future to make it work, which has its opening to commercial use large scale.
What can you do?
Despite some limitations still exist, augmented reality is really impressive powerful, especially on mobile devices. We will discuss specific limitations in detail a bit more at the end of this article, but first the good: what can do.
Augmented Reality on mobile devices
Many smart phones, including the Apple iPhone ™ Android ™ and many phones now come with an integrated GPS and compass, which means that the phone can determine its location and know what direction you are facing. This is important because most mobile augmented reality applications based on the knowledge of his position, rather than in the recognition of objects (although some of those too).
This includes providing direction, providing information about things around you, and update when something important happens in your area. For example, if you're in a mall, an application of augmented reality could help guide the shopping there was an element I wanted, upgrade, when flash sales and discounts to happen, and help you find your friends, you can miss.
One of the most popular applications on the Droid ™ application is Google Sky Map. Users can keep your phone to the night sky and immediately see a label for all stars and constellations. When the user indicates the phone in different directions, the image on the screen is adjusted properly to display the labels of what the user is viewing in real life.
Other similar applications have taken this technology and applied it to the search. augmented reality browsers work showing search results based on proximity. As you search for the nearest pizza restaurant or hotel, these browsers will display the results in information real-time digital on top of the real world, seen through the camera in your mobile phone. While holding the phone to the horizon and turns, the template show the results are displayed in the address you are looking for.
Browser One of the most impressive fact is called Layar, which allows users and developers the ability to create custom tools. As a result, users can search hundreds of different types of things, including tweets near photos of nature, service opportunities and community events. Layar overlays can show 3D objects, such as displaying the Berlin Wall in its current form before 1989 or, better put the icons for information.
Augmented Reality with Webcams and Internet Applications
Another form of augmented reality that are increasingly common in mobile applications and web is the use of webcams or camera phones to overlay images on what the camera is seeing.
In many cases these uses QR codes essentially a bar code of high technology, or other visual cues to know how to display an object. For example, magazines, business cards, business cards, or other materials can be printed to provide visual cues for the camera. Hold the card closer to the webcam and the object becomes larger, tilt or rotate the card and the virtual object moves with you.
This allows you to manipulate virtual objects, that may be ideal for online shopping, games, development, and other applications. There are hundreds of examples that are currently in use, but each of them provided a new level of interactivity that gives users the ability to "interact" with the product, rather than just see photos or video.
Some of these applications also recognize physical gestures, allowing you to control the application just by standing in view of the camera and make the appropriate gestures. Eg Some applications allow you to virtually try on clothes from an online store. Using simple gestures, such as lifting the arm to the right or left, may pass into following article of clothing, or add your current shopping cart, or change the color, or any number of programmable commands.
This gives the user full control without having to return to the computer to make selections or work with the program.
Live digital cameras have also been used on billboards augmented reality. These billboards record what happens on the street, and overlay information or advertising.
An example is found in Amsterdam, where they are attacked a prerecorded video of EMTs and medical personnel trying to rescue an injured person. This pre-recorded (and phased) video is superimposed on a video stream of people on the street. When you look at the billboard, is what appears to be a tragic event that takes place. The message is that everyone needs to be aware of public officials and help keep them safe.
This type of marketing impact reaches the audience, showing them what situation would in real life. This can be for public safety situations, as described above, or to promote products in which the public can visualize how a particular product might look at home.
Augmented Reality Custom Business Integration
The companies have also begun to build their own augmented reality platforms for training, efficiency and performance improvement. These projects help new and experienced employees to improve their skills, learn new techniques and more quickly respond to real-time information.
One example is the BMW that is in the process of deploying your own application of augmented reality for mechanics. This application is designed to improve training time, reduce errors and increase efficiency, guided through the process of mechanical repair.
This platform, which is an integration of custom hardware and software, is the mechanics using specialized goggles that use the precise object recognition auto parts on screen, select your actual location. Not sure how to remove the radiator? This system will show exactly what parts have to move and remove to replace. To this end, overlapping images of each part, and gives visual instructions to remove each piece.
augmented reality applications are already being developed in many other industries, including health care and the development of natural resources. Increased access to real time information provides managers and people on the ground, from wells to brain surgeons, an advantage over the competition.
What are its limitations?
The limitations mostly platform dependent. For most companies looking to develop something to attract customers, matching the desired characteristics of the application for the appropriate platform can be a big obstacle. We discussed some suggestions for matching a project for the right platform before, especially for mobile and desktop applications, and it definitely applies here too.
Today, most smart phones rely on GPS and an internal compass for direction and location. This works in many situations, but it is a limiting factor because of its inherent inaccuracy. The GPS can know which street is located, and the compass can say in general what direction you are facing, but if you want to include accurate overlays on objects and buildings would be almost impossible without the recognition of objects, or other location visual signals. You could get semi-close, sure, but more powerful object recognition software, and more powerful mobile devices to run the software, there will be very noticeable inconsistencies.
Fortunately, as with most technology is improving rapidly. In a few years, nearby objects real time recognition on smartphones will be a reality. Since implementation of Google "Google Goggles" uses rudimentary object recognition, which can read and translate texts, paintings and recognize landmarks, read bar codes including, but still have problems to recognize and differentiate many common objects. Moreover, even Google Goggles is a considerable delay in a short processing time and use their knowledge database online to make comparisons, what prevents a practice used in AR experience.
Other limitations include the broad social adoption of technology. Mobile devices, webcams and other technologies needed are fairly common, but not everyone uses these devices, and not all used augmented reality applications. For now, it is mostly a novelty. But as more people get involved technology, user experience, usability, and improve quality, This will lead to a better and more compelling applications.
What next?
As technology advances, we hope see soon augmented reality becoming more common in web and mobile applications. How to improve hardware and software, augmented reality will become more mainstream, let people view any product simply scan the barcode, or even just for the pure object recognition.
Integration into mobile devices is a fact, but we also expect to see it integrated into our social life and as part of our daily experience. And game developers, marketing, advertising, manufacturing, medical and many other industries are working to develop augmented reality applications that will give them an edge over your competition and produce better results in less time.
As always, we are always willing to take a challenge and love to work with you to build a market leading product augmented reality that will impress your customers and your competition. Let us know how our experienced development team can help you succeed.
About the Author
About the Author
The marketing team at Amadeus Consulting considers it part of their daily tasks to stay on top of what is going on in the technology marketplace. It is important to our company culture to be technology thought leaders, but we also want to share our knowledge and insights with readers excited about the latest and greatest tech news in the Tech Market Watch blog.
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