Augmented Reality (AR)
What Does Augmented Reality Mean?
Augmented reality (AR) is a technology that superimposes virtual information over an existing physical world environment. In other words, it adds digital layers on top of reality. The overlaid objects may be visual, auditory, and sensory information, such as text, audio, images, or other sensory stimuli.
Imagine that you’re planning to build a house and want to know how it would appear when fully furnished. AR technology would allow you to see virtual furniture placed in your real space. Similarly, when shopping for new sneakers online, AR can let you virtually “try on” the shoes to see how they would look on your feet before purchasing.
How Does It Work?
AR typically overlays objects in the real world, allowing users to interact and experience digital content in their physical surroundings. Overlaying digital objects can mean one of two things. One, masking the physical environment with digital content. Or two, adding new objects or digital information onto the real world.
Users access AR experiences through devices such as smartphones, tablets, AR glasses, or specialized AR headsets. These devices use cameras, sensors, and sophisticated software platforms to recognize the physical environment and position digital elements appropriately within it.
By blending digital content with what’s real, AR alters the perception of reality. This allows users to perceive digital aspects as part of their physical environment while still maintaining awareness of their surroundings, unlike the fully immersive experience of VR.
Businesses often leverage this tech to collect data, visualize and promote products, or even launch marketing campaigns. What’s more, it can be used in gaming, the metaverse, architecture, education, fashion, and home design.
A popular example of an AR application is Pokémon Go, where users can search for animated characters in their real-life surroundings. Sports broadcasters also use AR to add statistical overlays and visual analysis to live games.
AR vs. VR
While virtual reality (VR) completely replaces the physical environment with a simulated one, AR enhances the real world by adding layers of digital information on top of it. VR is entirely virtual and typically requires full headset immersion, while AR maintains the user’s connection to reality.
