Question
What is augmented reality, and how can it be used?
Answer
Augmented reality (AR) is a technology that overlays digital information, such as images, sounds, or text, onto the real world, enhancing the user’s experience by integrating virtual elements with their physical environment (Berryman, 2012; Chen et al., 2019; Azuma, 1997; Mendoza-Ramírez et al., 2023). Unlike virtual reality, which creates a completely digital environment, AR enriches the real world with digital enhancements (Berryman, 2012; Chandralekha and Kavya, 2018).
Applications of augmented reality
Applications of augmented reality include:
Education and training:
AR is used to shift the location and timing of education, providing interactive and immersive learning experiences. It helps in visualizing complex concepts and can be applied in both school and business settings to maintain efficiency (Lee, 2012; Villagran-Vizcarra et al., 2023).
Medicine:
In the medical field, AR is used for robot-assisted surgery, prosthetics, rehabilitation, and training systems, enhancing precision and providing real-time data to practitioners (Makhataeva and Varol, 2020; Villagran-Vizcarra et al., 2023).
Industry and manufacturing:
AR, often combined with AI, is used to improve production speed, workforce training, and error handling in manufacturing processes. It enhances assembly and packaging tasks by providing real-time data and visual guidance (Devagiri et al., 2022; Villagran-Vizcarra et al., 2023).
Marketing and retail:
AR is employed to create interactive and engaging marketing campaigns, allowing consumers to visualize products in their own environment before purchase (Berryman, 2012; Villagran-Vizcarra et al., 2023).
Entertainment and gaming:
AR provides immersive experiences in gaming and entertainment, allowing users to interact with digital elements in their real-world environment (Azuma, 1997; Chandralekha and Kavya, 2018).
Military and defense:
AR is used for visualisation, path planning, and training, providing soldiers with enhanced situational awareness and decision-making capabilities (Azuma, 1997; Chandralekha and Kavya, 2018).
Summary:
Augmented reality is a versatile technology that enhances real-world experiences by overlaying digital information. It finds applications across various fields, including education, medicine, industry, marketing, and entertainment, offering interactive and immersive experiences that improve efficiency and engagement. As AR technology continues to evolve, its integration with AI and other technologies promises even broader applications and innovations.
References
- Berryman, D., 2012. Augmented Reality: A Review. Medical Reference Services Quarterly, 31, pp. 212 – 218. https://doi.org/10.1080/02763869.2012.670604
- Chen, Y., Wang, Q., Chen, H., Song, X., Tang, H., & Tian, M., 2019. An overview of augmented reality technology. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 1237. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1237/2/022082
- Lee, K., 2012. Augmented Reality in Education and Training. TechTrends, 56, pp. 13 – 21. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11528-012-0559-3
- Azuma, R., 1997. A Survey of Augmented Reality. Presence: Teleoperators & Virtual Environments, 6, pp. 355-385. https://doi.org/10.1162/pres.1997.6.4.355
- Devagiri, J., Sidike, P., Niyaz, Q., Yang, X., & Smith, S., 2022. Augmented Reality and Artificial Intelligence in industry: Trends, tools, and future challenges. Expert Syst. Appl., 207, pp. 118002. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eswa.2022.118002
- Makhataeva, Z., & Varol, H., 2020. Augmented Reality for Robotics: A Review. Robotics, 9, pp. 21. https://doi.org/10.3390/robotics9020021
- Mendoza-Ramírez, C., Tudón-Martínez, J., Félix-Herrán, L., Lozoya-Santos, J., & Vargas-Martínez, A., 2023. Augmented Reality: Survey. Applied Sciences. https://doi.org/10.3390/app131810491
- Chandralekha, .., & , K., 2018. Augmented Reality Applications. International journal of engineering research and technology, 5.
- Villagran-Vizcarra, D., Luviano-Cruz, D., Pérez-Domínguez, L., Méndez-González, L., & Garcia-Luna, F., 2023. Applications Analyses, Challenges and Development of Augmented Reality in Education, Industry, Marketing, Medicine, and Entertainment. Applied Sciences. https://doi.org/10.3390/app13052766
