Table of contents
1.
Introduction to AR(Augmented Reality)
2.
Applications of AR(Augmented Reality)
2.1.
Aviation and transport management
2.2.
Military and defence
2.3.
Healthcare
2.4.
Gaming industry
2.5.
Education 
2.6.
Augmented Reality in Search
2.7.
Fashion Retail
2.8.
Coloring Books
2.9.
Obstetrics
2.10.
Architecture
3.
Frequently Asked Questions
3.1.
What is augmented reality in aviation?
3.2.
Why is AR being used? 
3.3.
What is the negative impact of augmented reality?
4.
Conclusion
Last Updated: Mar 27, 2024

Applications of Augmented Reality

Author Urwashi Priya
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Introduction to AR(Augmented Reality)

Augmented reality is a digital medium that allows us to overlay virtual content into the physical world in a way that makes it seem like the content is physically there. AR essentially allows us to merge the digital and physical worlds. Mostly AR uses a camera or 3-d depth sensors. When we enter a new room, our mind processes the relative area and its belonging relative to the position, all these things get stored in our subconscious mind. Similarly, our phone also maps the surrounding environment. This is termed tracking or localisation.

                                                                                                                Credit: forbes

Applications of AR(Augmented Reality)

Aviation and transport management

Augmented reality is of great use in navigation inside airports. Here application also extends to managing and controlling the traffic.

Military and defence

Microsoft is working with the US Army to develop the Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) to increase soldiers' situational awareness, communications, battlefield navigation, and overall operational effectiveness.

IVAS has a heads-up display (HUD), thermal imaging, interactive maps, and an overhead compass, all powered by Microsoft's HoloLens technology. Soldiers can use it to track and share enemy positions across the battlefield. It can also determine whether a target is friendly, neutral, or hostile.

Thanks to several front-facing head-mounted cameras, you can see in the dark (night vision), see through smoke, and even look around corners. Soldiers can also analyse previous operations by watching a video game-like replay of their most recent mission, among other capabilities.

Healthcare

The major application of AR is in healthcare. Many machines used for diagnosis in hospitals are based on augmented reality. Situation awareness is one of the AR-based applications that can be carried out in the field of defence. The use of augmented reality has reduced infrastructural costs.

Gaming industry

Since COVID-19, you've certainly spent more time gaming, but have you considered or used augmented reality to improve your gaming experience? If not, you're missing out since augmented reality is revolutionising how people access, consume, and enjoy games.
In game creation, game creators are experimenting with more immersive and experiencing elements. Pokémon Go, which was introduced in 2016, allows you to experience augmented reality by bringing game characters into your physical environment.

                                                                                                                 Credit: theconversation

Education 

Pre-made resources are used by teachers which saves their time and effort and this even benefits and excites the students. Digital workbooks, puzzle boxes, and applying timers are some of the ways in which teachers can gamify learning using augmented reality.

Augmented Reality in Search

Another intriguing application of AR technology is 3D animals. Google 3D Animals lets you to search for and watch life-size animals in 3D, as well as interact with them via augmented reality in your local area.

You can Google image-search 3D creatures like zebras, koalas, sharks, and more using an ARCore equipped device and supported browsers like Chrome, Opera, and Safari. Tap on View in 3D, then View in Your Space on the results page.

To see the life-sized zebra in 3D, point your phone to the ground. You can move it about and hear it bark, bray, and snort much like it does in the wild using augmented reality.

Fashion Retail

See My Fit is a technology developed by Asos that employs augmented reality to realistically fit garments onto models. It allows you to try up to 500 things per week on six different models to see how they fit. This allows you to see the size, fit, and cut of each item before paying.

COVID-19 has forced the shop to stop working with models in its studios. In addition to See My Fit, Asos is leveraging flat shot photographs and product shots from models' homes to continue to serve its customers.

Virtual Catwalk, an AR-enabled tool that allows you to visually envision and experience up to 100 ASOS Design products, was introduced earlier this year by the top fashion store. Zara, Ikea, Shopify, Kendra Scott, and a slew of others are among them.

Coloring Books

Traditional colouring books allow you to sketch and express yourself artistically in two dimensions on paper. However, in today's extended reality environment, this is static and fairly restrictive. AR allows you to explore the amazing world of 3D drawing.

You can sketch your favourite characters in 2D on paper and have them reproduced in 3D in real time with Disney's augmented reality colouring book app. The programme matches and copies elements of the drawing in 3D using texture generation. You may move your characters as you turn the pages using deformable surface tracking.

Coloring books by Disney are accessible for both children and adults, with over 100 illustrations to encourage creativity and motivate you to draw. Disney earned the Edison award in 2016 for the app.

Obstetrics

Road to Birth is an AR+VR project developed by the University of Newcastle's Innovation Team to provide visual insights into the stages of childbirth and their affects on pregnant women.

This is a world-first breakthrough that will change the way healthcare providers and expectant mothers interact. Samsung GearVR, HTC Vive (VR), and Holo Lens are used (AR).

Using AR and VR, this mixed-reality simulation will allow you to learn about essential anatomy changes, delivery approaches, and real-world situations in 3D. This will help students learn faster and provide expectant women a better grasp of the physical changes they may experience throughout pregnancy.

Architecture

For space planning and design visualisation, AR is widely used in the architectural and construction industry. You may turn a simple sketching design on paper into a full 3D model with specialist software.

AR can also be utilised in construction to take a virtual tour of the finished 3D model during design analysis. This visual inspection can aid engineers and contractors in determining the height of the ceiling, as well as identifying any constructability difficulties and assisting with component prefabrication.

The University of Canterbury in New Zealand launched CityViewAR in 2011, following the Christchurch earthquake, to allow city planners and engineers to envision and re-imagine structures as they were before the earthquake.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is augmented reality in aviation?

Augmented Reality enables the integration of virtual reality with physical reality. This technology has become popular in many sectors including business, healthcare, and entertainment as well.

Why is AR being used? 

The main advantage of augmented reality is we could visualise the product beforehand and preview it. It saves both cost and time.

What is the negative impact of augmented reality?

Sometimes augmented reality proves to be expensive. Not only this, it may cause nausea, dizziness, and sweating.

Conclusion

This article taught us about the Applications of AR. We hope you could easily take away all critical and conceptual techniques by walking over the given points. 
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