A. What is Augmented Reality :
Augmented Reality is transforming a physical environment or an object into a multidimensional reality with rich multimedia experience in real time. It brings the elements of the virtual world and puts them into the real world, enhancing the things we see, feel, and hear. It allows us to view a real-world space through a camera by introducing virtual objects, giving us the impression that the objects actually exist within the same space.
B. Augmented Reality: How does it affect:
B.1 Revolutionizing industries and enterprises:
Augmented Reality has revolutionized industries and enterprises by offering increased productivity, efficiency, and safety. For example, Augmented Reality provides industrial & manufacturing enterprises with real-time factory diagnostic and healthcare enterprises with surgical training and enhanced visualization.
B.2 Enriching user app experience:
iOS 11 introduces ARKit, a new framework that allows you to easily create unparalleled augmented reality experiences for iPhone and iPad. By blending digital objects and information with the environment around you, ARKit takes apps beyond the screen, allowing them to interact with the real world in entirely new ways.
C. Augmented Reality Uses:
Besides Gaming, Augmented Reality is used in various other fields as well. Some of them are:
- Architecture
- Visual arts
- Commercial
- Education
- Industrial designing
- Medical
- Military
- Navigation
- Tourism
D. Augmented Reality : The Top 5 players in the race:
D.1 Google:
In 2013, Google announced the development of ‘Google Glass,’ the augmented reality glass. The glass can access the internet through Bluetooth that connects to the wireless services on the cell phone of the user. The glass responds to users whenever they speak, touch the frame or move their head
D. 2 Microsoft:
In 2015, Microsoft announced the game-changing HoloLens. It is an augmented reality based headset that uses several sensors and a processing unit to connect HoloLens with the real world for enriching breathtaking experiences for the users.
D.3. Apple:
In 2015, Apple acquired the augmented reality company Metio. Recently, Apple CEO, Tim Cook confirmed that the company is working to develop great things for customers and commercial opportunities making viable use of Augmented Reality.
D.4. Niantic:
Niantic, became a leading augmented reality-based mobile app game development company after the immense success of Pokemon Go.
D.5. Verizon:
Verizon is planning to create an augmented reality-based mobile app that will allow in-stadium football fans to identify their on-field players and have their detailed insights in a bubble which would hover over each player in real-time.
