Theory and Audience Analysis Blog | thoughts from Elon's iMedia students

Augmented reality can be used to provide services in many ways, as we’ve seen in class this week. From fixing cars, to training military, police, or firefighters– augmented reality should prove to be incredibly useful as we move into the future. Perhaps one day doctors will use AR during surgeries. I can also see a future where 15 year olds take Drivers Ed through AR technologies.

Through class, I’ve realized that AR is different from VR in that it provides insight on actual reality. Virtual reality takes users and players into simulated worlds. AR works off the basis off the real world. This makes it much more helpful and useful to society. Whereas VR is seen more as a gaming platform, AR could be used for the public good. Despite reading the articles online, it took real-life examples for me to realize that there is a difference between the two technologies. Although they are obviously related (I guess AR grew out of VR?), AR has taken virtual reality and applied it to everyday life.

Its strange to think about, but we are moving into a society that will one day be dominated by technologies such as these. And that’s a little scary. Designers will one day have to incorporate these technologies into the media they create. We aren’t that far off from it, either. It could be as soon as a few decades away, which means that in my lifetime, and certainly in my children’s, the world will look like a very different place. I wonder if some of the mystery of life will be taken away if we have a constant stream of information superimposed on reality? Car windshields, buffet lines, and classrooms will all have digital text and information displayed to provide people with as much information as possible about what they are looking at.

I can’t say exactly how we will incorporate AR into the future of design, but I know that it will be done. I think the most important thing is for us to remain open to the changes– since we really don’t have a choice. Its somewhat intimidating and most definitely life altering, but technologies like AR are only destined to grow and further develop as we learn more about how to use them and incorporate them into our ever day life.

I asked:

The author of the augmented reality article says that augmented reality surpassed virtual worlds. I want to know how they have surpassed them and what’s really different between the two, because just from their titles they sound very similar.
After the video chat with Whurley today, I think that the two are very similar. I do feel like augmented reality does go beyond just virtual worlds because it seems to put the user in the virtuality more. With virtual worlds, the user may have an avatar type creature that mimics and goes through the motions that the user would go through. But with augmented reality, the user is actually doing the actions themselves. They are in this world. So it is closer to actual reality, it is just not exactly the same as real world. As I said though the two are very similar.

Which aspects of augmented reality were derived from virtual worlds/reality (gaming and such)? And which came first? Did we just learn one before the other, but augmented reality was actually created first?

I’m still unclear as to which one came first, Augmented reality or Virtual reality, but I’m going to guess that augmented reality is an extension of virtual reality because the technology behind it seems more advanced and unique. For instance, the new game console Kinect, and the games that go with it, seem to go so far beyond World of Warcraft gaming and other video games played with the PS3 and other more advanced game consoles.

1. What are some ways Augmented Reality is used in every day life?  Do I see AR on a regular basis and not even know it?

Based on our video chat today with Whurley, augmented reality can be seen in every day life.  Examples given were the ability to take pictures of bar codes or building with a smart phone and information for the place will be brought up on your phone.  This is such a simple, yet useful idea to many so I really think that this could take off.

2.  How can I use Augmented Reality in my interactive work?

According to Whurley, AR can be used in interactive work but it is expensive and not quite effective just yet since many aren’t even sure of exactly what it is.  I think that everyone needs to know exactly what AR is and its purpose before it will become more mainstreamed in homes and can be used in interactive work more often.

3.  Is Augmented Reality the future for gaming systems?  It seems like it would be a likely direction but how feasible is this?

The Kinect is actually a form of AR, so it really is the future of gaming systems.  I’ve yet to use the Kinect but it does seem pretty interesting that the console knows the person standing in front of it.  I think that this concept can only be taken further in the future.

1. What are some ways Augmented Reality is used in every day life?  Do I see AR on a regular basis and not even know it?

2.  How can I use Augmented Reality in my interactive work?

3.  Is Augmented Reality the future for gaming systems?  It seems like it would be a likely direction but how feasible is this?

After reading about Augmented Reality, my questions are:

1.) How is AR mostly different from virtual worlds?

2.) Are people more likely to get into an AR game than in a virtual world game like Second Life?

3.) Does AR blur the lines of reality vs. alternative less than virtual worlds for users?

To frame my reading for the week and our class discussion, I propose the following questions:

1. This is the first topic we have talked about that I really have no idea of what it is or expectations of the technology so I think I should start with:  what exactly is augmented reality?
2. How does augmented reality differ from virtual worlds?
3. How does this reach those of us that aren’t looking to augment our realities?
4. What technologies are used to augment reality?

How far away are AR tools, like holodecks or the types of interfaces we’ve seen in sci-fi movies? (there already exists virtual keyboards)

How are the newest video game AR developments (the XBox Kinect and the Playstation Move) going to affect AR adoption rates? (The Kinect utilizes voice command and gestures and the Move allows users to interact with things in the 3d environment through their physical movement such as moving into the environment, not just up down left right) Will it open the market to more such devices and will it bring the starting price points down at all?

How does AR in things such as cars and driving situations affect the safety of the driver and their attention when driving?

1) Which iPhone apps are tapping into the technological potential for augmented reality?

2) Will augmented reality increase gaming addictions by further blurring the user’s understanding of reality?

3) How do we currently define reality?

Besides gaming, how could AR be utilized in more every day situations? Would something like was shown in the flash article help people explain concepts during business meetings?

How could we use AR for educational purposes? For specifically, for children that are unable to go to school or take field trips because they are hospitalized for long periods of time.

Is AR the next big thing, or are people satisfied with using avatars in programs like Second Life. It seems like some people like to hide behind their avatars so will this really become popular in the gaming world?

Augmented reality is AWESOME from what I’ve seen and read. While it’s in the early stages, the possibilities of what it will bring are pretty huge. That being said, I’ve got a few questions about where it may go:

1. With augmented reality giving the user a chance to use motion to control virtual items, how could it be used in the medical field? Will it be good for training? Could we end up in a place where medical education ends up being like the game “Operation” but with augmented reality?

2. What are some practical ways augmented reality could be used in the working world?

3. Is Augmented Reality the first step in the direction towards a real-life “Avatar”? Why or why not?