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                  Tech Update






                      AUGMENTED REALITY AND VIRTUAL REALITY

                  Although the term Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) are taken together here, there is a
                  distinct difference between the two.
                  Augmented Reality

                  Augmented Reality is the blending of Virtual Reality and real life. AR is using technology to superimpose
                  information such as sounds, images and text on the real world that we can see.  Images are created by
                  developers within applications that blend in with content in the real world. AR users can interact with
                  virtual content in the real world and can also distinguish between virtual and real content.
                  AR is not a new technology. It was used in the display panels of fighter aircraft in the 1990s. The panel
                  displayed information about the altitude, direction and speed of the aircraft. A few years later the panels

                  displayed the target objects.
                  In 2009, Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s developed
                  SixthSense.  It is a small device that is worn like a pendant
                  and  combines the  use  of  a  camera,  small projector,
                  smartphone and mirror. The projector and the camera are
                  connected  to  the  mobile  device  in  the  user’s  pocket.  The
                  projector projects the visual information on physical surfaces
                  such as walls and other objects. The camera recognizes and               SixthSense device
                  tracks the user’s hand gestures with the help of  computer-vision techniques.
                                     Google Glass created in 2013 is an example of wearable AR interface. It helps the user
                                     to remain focussed on the work. It displays on the user’s glass screen through a small
                                     projector. It responds to voice commands to activate an application any time.
                      Google Glass
                                     AR enters  the  lives of most people  through
                  phones and tablets. Vito Technology’s Star Walk app lets a user
                  point their phone or tablet camera at the sky and see the names of
                  stars and planets superimposed on the image. One more app
                  called  Layar  uses the  GPS location  of  the  smartphone  and  the
                  camera to collect information about the user’s surroundings. The
                  app then shows information about the nearby restaurants, stores
                                                                                                 Star Walk app
                  and places of interest.
                                              Disney Research developed a coloring book with AR. After the user colors
                                              in a character in the book, he / she launches the app on the device. The app
                                              uses the camera to detect the character that was colored. The app also uses
                                              AR to recreate the character in a 3D form on the screen.

                         Coloring book





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