PATTERN RECOGNITION
TOBY SHAPSHAK: Augmented offers better reality
AR is set for the big time and has the potential to be much more practical and useful than VR
This is the year when augmented reality (AR) is going to reach the mainstream public imagination. Several signs point to this nascent trend going mainstream, including Facebook’s F8 conference held last week where AR took centre stage with giant glasses projected above Mark Zuckerberg’s head. Calling it a "mix [of] the physical and digital" the Facebook CEO predicts AR as the next big computing platform. Unlike virtual reality (VR), which creates a virtual reality world using bulky goggles that have 3D and 360° video, AR puts an overlay over what we normally see. Right now these glasses are clunky and not very sophisticated, but the potential is vast.Imagine that you’re a pilot landing your plane, and you need to know what flight path and what altitude to follow. Or you’re a technician fixing a complex piece of machinery and need to read the manual to work out which part gets replaced and which bolts need unscrewing. AR holds the potential to overlay technical drawings on real-world...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.