Information

Did anyone watch Mission Impossible 4?

 In the movie "the agents use a specialized contact lens linked up with a computer database with facial recognition software. The agent just looks around, and the computer gives him information on people around him if they’re in the system."(erikthereddest, 2012)   That is augmented reality!


What is Augmented Reality?

           Augmented Reality or AR for short, is a mixture of virtual reality and the real world we live in.  When I think about virtual reality, I think of someone putting on a headset, and that person feeling as if they are being transported to another place. But in reality they are seeing and interacting in a different three dimensional world that is created by a computer.
          Augmented Reality has some aspects of virtual reality, but it is all about using the real world that we live in and enhancing it by using technology.  The definition given by Macmillan Dictionary is, "the technology of combining real word images, video, etc. with computer-generated information and/or imagery."(Macmillan Dictionary Maxwell, 2010)
It goes on to say:

                     Augmented Reality is a combination of real and virtual (computer-generated)   
                     worlds.  Given a real subject, captured on video or camera, the technology 
                    'augments' (= adds to) that real-world image with extra layers of digital 
                    information.  (Macmillan Dictionary Maxwell, 2010)

According to Azuma's, research there are three characteristics of augmented reality. AR "interacts in real time, registers in 3-D, and combines real and virtual reality." (Azuma, 1997)  The Horizon Report adds a few more characteristics. It stated that "augmented reality is able to respond to whatever the user puts into the software and that it is highly visual and interactive. Augmented reality is an active technology that allows students to make connections using situated learning and mobile devices." (Horizon Report, 2011)




There are also two different types of augmented reality or modes as it is sometimes called. The first type is called "visual metaphor," which is when a person uses a marker, like the one below, and holds it up to a web camera on a computer. (Horizon Report, 2011)

 

 The computer then uses software to make the marker come to life.  For example, Lego has a kiosk in their stores, where you hold up the marker on the Lego box to the camera on the kiosk. Then the marker turns into a 3-D model of what is inside the Lego box. The pieces even move on the screen and it looks as of you are holding the finished product.
The Horizon Report states that "as the marker-based systems are continuing to develop, many are beginning to use common real world objects as markers or even gestures." (Horizon Report, 2011)

    The video below is an example of the Lego Kiosk and how this type of augmented reality works.

The second type of augmented reality is "spatial positioning called gravimetric," which uses a GPS to help find or locate the position of something. (Horizon Report, 2011) There is also image recognition, where, a person would use a camera on a mobile device and the application would compare the image on the camera to a library of sources to find a match. For example, if someone wants to buy a TV, they might use their smartphone camera to look at the TV in a store. After running that image through the AR software on their smartphone, a list of all the others places that sell the same exact TV would come up along with prices and locations.

This video from Plain English, shows both types of Augmented Reality.

Software and Hardware

There is some software and hardware that a person would need in order to have access to augmented reality.
You would need:
1. A computer with a camera or a handheld device that has a camera (ex. smartphone, iPad)
2. Have access to the Internet
3. Download the AR Software (I was able to download it for free and there are many types to choose from.  ex.  DFusion, Immersion, Metaio, Zugara, Vuforia)
4. Tracking (GPS, Compass)
5. Possibly a printer if you are using markers from online

Limitations

There are some limitations to using the AR "visual metaphors" or markers. When using the markers, you need to make sure that they are always right in front of the camera or the 3-D image will disappear. The camera can only read the marker when it is straight in front of the camera. There were several times when I was trying to turn the 3-D car marker I was using and it would start flashing or disappear. The same thing happened when I was using the Iron man application. The marker was my face and if I tilted my face to far up or down the Iron man head piece would disappear as well. It was very frustrating at times, but as the technology improves I am sure that the glitch will be fixed.

Web 2.0 Technology

Augmented reality is a Web 2.0 technology, because it allows a person to have access to the real world and other information on the Internet. Everyone that uses augmented reality is able to interact with the real world and have information at the tip of their fingers. If someone uses the "visual metaphors" in AR then they are able to see 3-D representations of information that they can manipulate and interact with. If someone uses the "gravimetric" form of AR they can take any number of objects in the real world and add information found on a GPS or on the internet to help them, make decisions and learn more about the world around them. Now we have more access to multiple sources of information that can enhance and enrich our lives.



This video explains what augmented reality is, how it can be used and what to expect in the future.

Goal of Augmented Reality

The goal according to Educause Learning Initiative  is "to add information and meaning to real objects or places." (Educause, 2005)  The ultimate goal according to Jim Vallino, a software engineer at Rochester Institute of Technology, "is to create a system such that the user can not tell the difference between the real world and the virtual augmentation of it." (Vallino,2002)  By adding information to real objects it helps to build meaning and understanding about the world that we live in. It also bring real life situations into the classroom to enhance deeper levels of thinking.