Augmented Reality and its applications

 

About Topic

Believe it or not, augmented reality tech dates back to the 60s. While it might not have had all of the bells and whistles we’ve come to expect today, you have to start somewhere, right? In this article, we’ll look back on the history of augmented reality and how augmented reality works and its upgrade on different sectors and benefits of it.

Augmented Reality

It is one of the top buzzing topics in Digital Marketing in 2021. Most of the sectors in marketing have been using this AR technology to develop their sales and for their marketing strategies to target or attract their customers towards their products. Most of application of retails businesses have been already incorporated such AR technology in their website to make customers to buy their products easily by making them to check their products first on them through AR technology.

 What is AR?

Augmented reality is a technology that virtually places a 3D visual into a “real-world” experience. This gives the user the experience of appearance that the virtual object co-exists with them in the physical world.

You have seen most often AR is often used in gaming, bringing a more realistic experience to gamers but it’s also helpful in the shopping experience to the customer who can try the products on them virtual and can see how much does it suit them and can buy it accordingly.

There are so many apps used by retailers of furniture to customer’s check how a table fits in your kitchen or to other places in your home too. That’s why some brands are incorporating the technology into their strategies.

The evolution of Augmented Reality

Over the last 50 years, Augmented Reality technology has reshaped the way we consume content in the real world. 

When was augmented reality invented?

Augmented reality technology was invented in 1968, with Ivan Sutherland’s development of the first head-mounted display system.

Let's take a look back to see how AR technology was created in the first place.

1968: Ivan Sutherland, a Harvard professor and computer scientist, created the first head-mounted display called ‘The Sword of Damocles’.

1974: Myron Kruger, a computer researcher and artist, built a laboratory at the University of Connecticut called ‘Video place’ that was entirely dedicated to artificial reality. 

1990: Tom Caudell, a Boeing researcher, coined the term ‘augmented reality’. 

1992: Louis Rosenburg, a researcher in the USAF Armstrong's Research Lab, created ‘Virtual Fixtures’, which was one of the first fully functional augmented reality systems. 

1994: Julie Martin, a writer and producer, brought augmented reality to the entertainment industry for the first time with the theater production titled Dancing in Cyberspace.

1998: Sportsvision broadcasts the first live NFL game with the virtual 1st & Ten graphic system – aka the yellow yard marker. The technology displays a yellow line overplayed on top of the feed to that views can quickly see where the team just advance to to get a first down. This system is still used today, although admittedly more advanced than it was in the late ‘90s. Viewers have become accustomed to the yellow line marker and other additional graphics – most don’t even know that this is a form of AR technology. 

1999: NASA created a hybrid synthetic vision system of their X-38 spacecraft. The system leveraged AR technology to assist in providing better navigation during their test flights.

2000: Hirokazu Kato developed an open-source software library called the AR Toolkit. This package helps other developers build augmented reality software programs. The library uses video tracking to overlay virtual graphics on top of the real world.

2003: Sportvision enhanced the 1st & Ten graphic to include the feature on the new Skycam system – providing viewers with an aerial shot of the field with graphics overlaid on top of it.

2009: Esquire Magazine used augmented reality in print media for the first time in an attempt to make the pages come alive.

2013: Volkswagen debuted the MARTA app (Mobile Augmented Reality Technical Assistance) which primarily gave technicians step-by-step repair instructions within the service manual. This adaptation of AR technology was groundbreaking, as it could and would be applied to many different industries to align and streamline processes.

2014: Google unveiled its Google Glass devices, a pair of augmented reality glasses that users could wear for immersive experiences.

2016: Microsoft starts shipping its version of wearable AR technology called the Holo Lens, which is more advanced than the Google Glass, but came with a hefty price tag. It’s definitely not an everyday type of accessory. The headset runs on Windows 10 and is essentially a wearable computer. It also allows users to scan their surroundings and create their own AR experiences.

2017: IKEA released its augmented reality app called IKEA Place that changed the retail industry forever. The app allows customers to virtually preview their home decoration options before actually making a purchase. 

How AR works:

Augmented reality starts with a camera equipped device which everyone use such as a smartphone, a tablet, or smart glasses loaded with AR software in it. When a user looks at an object by using such AR incorporated devices, the software recognizes it through computer vision technology, which analyses the video stream. The device then downloads information about the object from the cloud, in much the same way that a web browser loads a page via a URL.  Then AR information is presented in a 3-D “experience” superimposed on the object rather than in a 2-D page on a screen.

 

Apps which use AR technology:

 

1. Houzz

   Houzz is one of the top AR apps for planning interior layouts and design.

The “View in My Room” feature uses AR technology to place products into a photo of the user’s home – using 3D technology, so the resulting image will feel like having life. It even shows what the product will look like in different lighting.

 

2. IKEA Place

This app looks at the bigger picture, taking into account your home’s entire floor plan to see which items will fit best where. Easy drag-and-drop functionality and the option to see different colors almost take the fun out of the IKEA experience.

 

3. Google Lens

One of the AR apps for Android only, Google Lens enhances the search experience. Instead of typing in a text-based query, open the app and aim it at what you want to learn more about. Google Lens will identify the object; tell you what the text says, and even store important numbers. Oh, and it’ll tell you where to buy the object in online.

 

4. Snapchat

Snapchat is a social media app known for its younger user base, fun effects, and self-destructing messages. But those wacky-face filters showcase AR at work.

Brands can incorporate Snapchat marketing and AR into their strategy by investing in branded filters. U can hear about all the bitmoji effects of it.

 

5.Wanna Kicks and GUCCI

Wanna Kicks is Designed specifically for sneaker lovers which provide virtual versions of footwear on your feet. You can see what they actually look like if you wear them on different angles and different styles.

There’s a built-in option to click the image of u wearing it and also share on social platforms.

 

AR used in different sectors:

 

1. in Healthcare:

A large number of medical students use AR inbuilt devices to understand the anatomy of body and also easy to experiencing them first before working with real patients to decrease their mistake making in practical’s.

     Example: Nurses can find veins easier with augmented reality, Pharma companies can provide more innovative drug information, augmented reality can assist surgeons in the OR.

    

2. In Manufacturing:

AR is useful tool in designing, building and running modern manufacturing facilities.

    Example: virtual maps and augmented real world environment.

   

3. In Retail:

 To enhance shopping experience for customers by providing 3-D shopping experiences of their products on customers mobile. They can have real 3-D experience by staying in house.

     Examples: IKEA, GUCCI

    

4.In Education:

 Lot of education apps provide AR technology based education to make understand about the concepts easily for students.

    Examples: Anatomy 4-D apps, quiver- 3D coloring app

   

5. In Logistics:

Industry leaders DHL and Amazon are said to be taking advantage of AR headsets in their ware houses, helping workers to find the most efficient route to store items that needs to be dispatched.