How to augmented reality are the new buzzwords in all fields touched by electronics and technology in recent times. Augmented reality (AR) is a new technology which uses computer generated virtual imagery to merge both the physical real world and the virtual world of digital graphics. This means overlying of digital data over images or views of the real world. How to augmented reality is far more advanced than the technology used in television broadcasting of graphics. The basic components used in this technology are generally camera, small projectors, mirrors, along with some tracking devices and input devices. The user uses a handheld device such as a smart phone to essentially turn any surface to an interactive screen.
The smart phone uses the mirror and the camera to view the surrounding world and feed the image to the hardware of the device. Then the image registrations software and the tracking sensors like accelerator or GPS processes the data and projects the digital information on to the surface of the real world screen in front of the user with the help of the projector. A user can also perform any desired action over the digital information projected by the device by simply moving his or her finger over the digital image of the information.
How to augmented reality technology commonly called AR has some major applications in today’s world. Some of its major applications are as follows:
Advertising: marketers have started using AR to promote their products. They are using augmented reality code that allows the customers with a webcam to view the product in 3D.
Supporting complex tasks: some of the major and complicated tasks like assembly, maintenance, surgery etc can be easily performed with help of this technology. The virtual image projected by an AR device on a real life screen with some additional digital data can easily facilitate the tasks of maintenance or the complex tasks of a doctor.
Navigating device: high end tracking devices incorporated within an AR system can easily help outdoor navigation, military operations, or disaster management. An HMD device can certainly help users while driving or riding automobiles with navigation hints as well as traffic information. It is widely used by the pilots of fighter jets for navigation purposes.
Entertainment: movie makers are widely using this technology in their films for digital effects. Some of the major music bands are also using this technology for their stage shows. But the most significant use of this technology is in the gaming industry. The video games of today are widely using AR technology for making the games more high-tech and engaging.