Apple [AR]T Project: AR in Central Park
We’ve been waiting for a good AR in Central Park project, not that we get uptown than much (or even at all) with our hectic schedules this summer. Parks can easily become augmented reality playgrounds and …
Augmented Reality
Augmented reality (AR) enhances our environment by overlaying it with digital data and objects. AR is already transforming social media with Snap and Facebook at the forefront of AR modifications of selfies and landscape images. Both Apple and Google have developed innovative AR platforms (ARKit and ARCore) which are precursors the operating systems of future AR Glasses that will most likely be available in 2022.
In 2016, Pokemon Go became the first highly popular game to utilize a rudimentary form of augmented reality. Its ability to shape human behavior even then says much about the power of gaming as it does AR applications.
Augmented Reality Developments
Practical applications of AR were initially developed for military heads-up displays, long before its appearance in consumer applications. Creating consumer-friendly AR Glasses remains a challenge due to design factors, lens technology, and battery life. Google’s Project Tango, which offered room-mapping of interior spaces, was originally designed as an AR platform only to be replaced by ARCore once the focus turned to the use of AR on Smartphones.
AR in Organizations and Education
Augmented Reality is already finding use in the work environment for eLearning training and retail applications in shopping. It has vast potential in K-12 and Higher Education learning environments but is still waiting on the release of user-friendly AR Glasses.
Did Apple Actually Kill its AR Glasses?
If you follow augmented reality developments, you read the recent speculation over Apple’s AR Glasses. The project’s been canceled. No, it hasn’t. Back and forth the tech media headlines scream. The original rumor came from DigiTimes, …
Harry Potter AR Game is no Pokémon Go
Have you tried the new Harry Potter AR game? Everyone seemed to be breathlessly waiting for the release of Harry Potter: Wizards Unite. It would be another step toward the mass adoption of augmented reality. But …
Innovative AR Moon Landing App from the JFK Library
Take a look at the AR moon landing app, a project from The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston. The app commemorates the upcoming 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 trip to the moon and …
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nReal’s AR Glasses Debut at AWE
We tried out nReal’s AR Glasses at the Augmented World Expo (AWE) in Santa Clara last week and were impressed – by both AWE and nReal’s glasses. Celebrating its tenth year, AWE has suddenly become a …
Ten Years of Augmented World Expo
Augmented World Expo takes the stage again this year, marking its tenth anniversary. A lot has happened since AWE’s formative years when it was a much smaller conference. It now hosts over 7,000 attendees, 250 exhibitors, …
Boston the Site of the Largest AR Art Exhibit in America
If you find yourself near Boston this summer, check out the largest AR art exhibit in America. Go see it for the art. See it for the ways AR can create art and cultural experiences across …
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New Google Glass AR Headset – Google Tries Again
First, Lenovo, now a new Google Glass AR announcement. This is turning out to be a week for augmented reality glasses. Anyone else waiting in the wings? You remember Google Glass. That first plunge into wearables …
ThirdEye: Smart Glasses for 5G Mobile
Verizon is making news with ThirdEye’s smart glasses for 5G mobile. The little-known company’s AR Glasses were unveiled at CES 2019 this year, though they showed up in last year’s APEX EXPO (an airline travel event) …
Chris Milk on Storytelling in AR and VR
Take a look at Chris Milk’s recent interview with The Wrap on Storytelling in AR and VR. The innovative director and immersive artist is the CEO of the VR tech and entertainment company, Within. Other companies …
Burger King’s Innovative AR Campaign – “Burn That Ad”
Burger King’s innovative AR campaign proves that while we wait for inexpensive augmented reality glasses, you can do creative immersive tech advertising through Smartphones. It shows how engaging AR marketing can be and gives you a …
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CNN Magic Leap App – Lots of Potential, No Immersion
The CNN Magic Leap app is out, and we’re underwhelmed. You’ll be able to pop on your Magic Leap One headset, sit down at your breakfast table and . . . watch the news. Seriously. And …
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An AR Activity Book for Hospitalized Children
Jump Simulation is distributing a wonderful AR activity book to children at OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois. The 22-page, 3-D interactive coloring-activity book focuses on anatomy and relies on an AR app on a Smartphone. …
LEGO® Embraces the Future – AR Play Spaces
If any company can grasp the potential of AR play spaces, it has to the privately held Danish firm LEGO®. They understand how to create compelling experiences for kids and adults. Even the splash page of …
AR Google Maps – Lessons for our Future Smart Glasses
At the Google I/O conference last spring, we were promised AR Google Maps – augmented reality directions on the one app we all find indispensable. It’s been a long wait, and it’s not over yet. But the …
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Our prediction: New HoloLens 2 will be Released on Feb 24th
After seeing the latest video from Microsoft, it’s clear the new HoloLens 2 will be released on February 24. Expect to see it at the Microsoft event at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Usually, we don’t …
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Madefire’s Comics in Mixed Reality for the Magic Leap One
Madefire’s new app for the Magic Leap One is a fascinating development. It’s not just that you can watch 3D comics through a ground-breaking headset. It’s that you can publish your own comics in Mixed Reality. …
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Sundance VR program experiments with Mixed Reality and AI
We’re on our way to the Sundance VR program at the popular film festival in Park City. We’ll have some reflections later this weekend and next week (assuming my fingers aren’t too cold to type) once …
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Market Report: VR grew by 30% in 2018
After a string of dismal predictions and much hand-wringing last year, it turns out that VR grew by 30% in 2018. The latest report by market analyst Superdata suggests that things aren’t as bad as many …
The weather in Mixed Reality from the Weather Channel
The Weather Channel is at it again. They’ve done another weather in mixed reality episode to convey the power of the winter storm that’s blanketed much of the U.S. this weekend (all except New York City, where …
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VR and cars – are you ready to drive around in Virtual Reality?
A couple of interesting projects surfaced recently involving VR and cars. One is based on patents from the ride-sharing service Lyft, the other from Audi’s announcement at CES 2019. Both are fascinating for how they could redefine …
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That was Fast: Three AR Companies Fail in a Month
While CES 2019 saw the release of innovative AR Glasses with Nreal and Vuzix, augmented reality has had a brutal winter. We’ve just watched three AR companies fail in the past four weeks. Meta Glasses is insolvent after …
Vuzix AR Smart Glasses arrive – if you have a $1,000
Vuzix AR Smart Glasses have finally arrived. Will they be the successor to Google Glass? A breakthrough in the AR market? Can they have a real impact on our relationship with technology and our environment? These …
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Our top ten VR and AR articles for 2018
As we reach the end of the year, it’s time to look back on our top ten VR and AR articles for 2018. We’ve wrapped up an incredible year of writing, travel, podcasts, and speaking engagements. …
New Bose AR Glasses give you audio Augmented Reality
The new Bose AR Glasses are a fascinating development in the augmented reality space. Bose demoed a prototype earlier this year out on the streets of Austin during SXSW to generally good reviews. There was no guarantee …
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Microsoft lands augmented reality military contract
Perhaps it wasn’t much of a surprise to hear that Microsoft landed a $480 million augmented reality military contract. The tech industry has always had its ties to the battlefield. But it’s definitely a boost for the HoloLens …
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New AR Glasses from Snap coming by end of year
Snap is at it again, with new AR Glasses rumored by the end of the year. We’ve already seen two versions of the Snap Spectacles, neither of which have been a factor in the augmented reality …
2018 Thanksgiving Day Parade in VR and AR
It’s that time of the year again in the States, and you can watch the Thanksgiving Day Parade in VR and AR. As with last year’s parade, there will be 360° cameras along the route. If …
Halloween AR story at the NY Times will educate and scare you
The New York Times continues its exploration of augmented reality with a creepy Halloween AR story. You want scary monsters tonight – how about the bugs and parasites that live on you? Ugh! But it is …
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Spektral acquisition could boost Apple’s AR development
Apple’s AR development got another boost from their acquisition of the Danish company Spektral which developed an algorithm for cutting figures out of images and video. There are some consumer knock-offs around but nothing close to what …
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