Augmented Reality - the uses, positives and negatives.


To understand Augmented Reality further I researched into it's uses and the positive and negative aspects of the technology. 

 Augmented reality and virtual reality are redefining the way in which we communicate, shop, and interact with each other and the environment  It continues to excite users with the new ways in which the lines are blurred between computer generated technology and real-life. However, it also comes with it's disadvantages. 

 Here are some ways AR technology is being used and some potential uses it may have in the future.

1. Medical Training

From operating MRI equipment to performing complex surgeries, AR tech holds the potential to boost the depth and effectiveness of medical training in many areas. From example using AR headsets to learn about human anatomy in an interactive 3D format. It can also be used in other fields such as military. 

2. Retail

In today's physical retail environment, shoppers are using their smartphones more than ever to compare prices or look up additional information on products they're browsing. Users can view an item they might be interesting in buying, and customise it using the app. It also has the potential of allowing businesses to advertise in 3D. 

3. Repair & Maintenance

One of the biggest industrial use cases of AR is for repair and maintenance of complex equipment. Whether it's a car motor or an MRI machine, repair and maintenance staff are beginning to use AR headsets and glasses while they perform their jobs to provide them with useful information on the spot, suggest potential fixes, and point out potential trouble areas. 

4. Design & Modelling

From interior design to architecture and construction, AR is helping professionals visualise their final products during the creative process. Use of headsets enables architects, engineers, and design professionals to step directly in their buildings spaces to see how their designs might look, and even make virtual on the spot changes. 

5. Business Logistics

AR presents a variety of opportunities to increase efficiency and cost savings across many areas of business logistics. This includes transportation, warehousing, and route-optimisation. Shipping company DHL has already implemented smart AR glasses in some of its warehouses, where lenses display to workers the shortest route within a warehouse to locate and pick a certain item that needs to be shipping. Providing workers with more efficient ways to go about their job is one of the best ROI use cases in today's business environment.

6. Tourism Industry

Technology has gone a long way towards advancing the tourism industry in recent years, from review sites like TripAdvisor to informative website like Lonely Planet. But AR presents a huge opportunity for travel brands and agents to give potential tourists an even more immersive experience before they travel. Imagine taking a virtual "Walkabout" Australia before on AR glasses before booking a ticket to Sydney, or a leisurely stroll around Paris to see what museums or cafes you might like to visit. AR promises to make selling trips, travel, and vacations a whole lot easier in the future.

7. Classroom Education

While technology like tablets have become widespread in many schools and classrooms, teachers and educators are now ramping up student's learning experience with AR. Students learning about astronomy might see a full map of the solar system, or those in a music class might be able to see musical notes in real time as they learn to play an instrument.

8. Entertainment Properties

In the entertainment industry, it's all about building a strong relationship with your branded characters and the audience. Properties like Harry Potter are immensely successful because readers of the books and watchers of the movies feel like they know the characters, and are hungry for additional content. Entertainment brands are now seeing AR as a great marketing opportunity to build deeper bonds between their characters and audience. As a matter of fact, the makers of AR sensation Pokemon Go are soon planning to release a Harry Potter themes AR game that fans can interact with day in and day out.

9. Public Safety

In the event of an emergency today, people will immediately reach for their smartphone to find out what's going on, where to go, and whether their loved ones are safe. Moreover, first responders arrive on the scene of a fire or earthquake trying to figure out who needs help, and the best way to get them to safety. AR is showing promise in solving both pieces of the public safety puzzle. First responders wearing AR glasses can be alerted to danger areas, and show in real-time individuals that need assistance while enabling to still be aware of their surroundings. For those in need, geolocation enabled AR can show them directions, and the best route to, safe zones and areas with firefighters or medics.

10. GPS Navigation

GPS has become so widespread that most people couldn’t live without it. One annoying aspect is that you generally have to take your eyes off the road to see the directions, along with turn-by-turn directions being difficult to line up to the actual road at times. Mishor 3D is currently working on 3D navigation driver’s aid to solve that.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnRJaHZH9lo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrZsmfA56Sw
The Positive and Negative Aspects of AR
- It reduces line between real world and virtual world. 
- It enhances perceptions and interactions with the real world. - Due to its use in medical industry, life of patients have become safer. It helps in efficient diagnosis of diseases and in early detection of them. - It can be used by anyone as per applications. - It can save money by testing critical situations in order to confirm their success without actually implementing in real time. Once it is proven, it can be implemented in real world. - It can be used by military people without putting their life in danger by way of battle field simulation before the actual war. This will also help them in actual war to take critical decisions. - It can be applied to part of training programs as it makes things memorable and eye catching. 

 But

- Lack of privacy is a concern in AR based applications.  
- In AR, people are missing out on important moments. 
- Low performance level is a concern which needs to be addressed during testing process. 
- It requires basic learning to effectively use AR compliant devices. 
- It is expensive to develop the AR technology based projects and to maintain it. Moreover production of AR based devices is costly. 

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Bibliography

I used these following websites and videos to help with my research into the various aspects for this project. Foundry.com. (2018).  VR/AR/MR, what's the difference? | Virtual reality | Foundry . [online] Available at: https://www.foundry.com/industries/virtual-reality/vr-mr-ar-confused [Accessed 15 Oct. 2018]. Hacker Noon. (2018).  The difference between AR, VR, MR, XR and how to tell them apart . [online] Available at: https://hackernoon.com/the-difference-between-ar-vr-mr-xr-and-how-to-tell-them-apart-45d76e7fd50 [Accessed 15 Oct. 2018]. Anon, (2018). [online] Available at: https://www.theprimacy.com/blog/finally-4-real-world-uses-for-augmented-reality/ [Accessed 19 Oct. 2018]. Beautiful, t., Beautiful, t. and profile, V. (2018).  Augmented Reality: Advantages and Disadvantages . [online] Rt-kahyun.blogspot.com. Available at: http://rt-kahyun.blogspot.com/2010/02/augmented-reality-advantages-and.html [Accessed 19 Oct. 2018]. Dhruv, S. (2018).  Pros an...
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