What is Augmented Reality

Augmented reality (AR) is one of the biggest technological trends right now, an improved version of the real world that is achieved through the use of digital visuals,sounds or other sensory stimuli provided through technology.

It is a growing trend among companies involved in mobile computing and business applications.

One of the main objectives of augmented reality is to highlight the specific characteristics of the physical world, increase its understanding and derive smart information useful for improving the real world.

How Augmented Reality works

Creating Augmented Reality (AR) experiencesrequires very sophisticated location-based technology (GPS) and image identification.

This allows it to add digital content to a live camera feed, making it look like it's part of the physical world around us.

Equipment

AR images can be viewed on a multitude of devices:

• Glasses and masks (e.g. Google Glass)
• Headphones and heads-up display (helmet visors)
• Games and smartphone apps – famous example Pokémon GO.

Types of AR

There are two main types of augmented reality: with markers and without markers.

In this case the markers (marks) consist of something placed in the field of view to be used as a reference point to help the AR device determine the position and orientation (pose) of its camera.

Marker-based AR uses image recognition to identify objects that have been preprogrammed in the AR device orapp.

TheAR without markers is more complicated, in this case, in fact nothing has been pre-programmed in the device resulting in a recognition on the spot.

Augmented Reality in Pokemon Go

The most famous example of AR technology is the Pokemon GO mobile app, which in 2016 won the most viral game title of the season , exponentially increasing Nintendo titles.

What is Pokemon GO AR?

Players spot and capture Pokémon characters that suddenly appear in the real world: on the sidewalk, in a fountain, or inside their own home.

Once the Pokémon GO game is opened, the GPS will store the path and place where the player is located, also taking into account the time to determine when and where to make the Pokemon appear through the camera.

Augmented Reality applications

During football matches, broadcasters use AR to draw lines on the field to illustrate and analyze plays.

IKEA offers an AR app that allows you to see how a piece of furniture will look and how it will fit into your space.

Military fighter pilots see an AR projection of their altitude, speed and other data on the helmet visor, thus managing to maintain attention.

In neurosurgery, an AR projection of a 3D brain is used to help them with surgeries.

In historical sites such as Pompeii, the AR can project views of ancient civilizations on today's ruins, giving us an imaginary of the reality of the past.

Singapore airport ground staff wear AR glasses to display information about cargo containers, speeding up loading times.