Augmented Reality
- Overlays digital content onto the user’s physical environment in real time.
- Enhances, rather than replaces, the real-world view — unlike virtual reality.
- Applied in gaming, education, retail, medical, and military/aviation contexts to improve visualization and decision-making.
Definition
Section titled “Definition”Augmented Reality (AR) is a technology that blends digital information with the user’s physical environment in real-time. Unlike virtual reality, which creates a completely artificial environment, AR enhances the existing environment by overlaying digital elements on top of it.
Explanation
Section titled “Explanation”AR integrates computer-generated information with a user’s view of the real world, updating that combination in real time. It augments the user’s perception of their physical surroundings by placing digital objects, annotations, or data over the live view, allowing interaction with both real and virtual elements simultaneously.
Examples
Section titled “Examples”Gaming
Section titled “Gaming”AR can add virtual characters or objects to the user’s physical space. In the mobile game Pokémon Go, players can catch virtual Pokémon that appear in their real-world surroundings using their smartphone’s camera.
Education
Section titled “Education”AR can make learning more interactive and engaging. For example, a student studying anatomy can use an AR app to see a 3D model of the human body overlaid on their physical textbook, helping visualize and understand complex concepts.
Retail
Section titled “Retail”AR can help customers make better purchasing decisions. An online furniture store can offer an AR feature that allows customers to visualize how a piece of furniture would look in their own home before buying.
Medical
Section titled “Medical”AR can assist doctors during complex surgeries by providing real-time information and guidance. For example, an AR system can display a patient’s MRI scan overlaid on their body during surgery, allowing the doctor to precisely target the treatment area.
Military and Aviation
Section titled “Military and Aviation”AR is used to provide soldiers and pilots with critical real-time information. An AR headset can display a battlefield map or a cockpit control panel, enabling faster navigation and decision-making.
Use cases
Section titled “Use cases”- Gaming: Adding virtual characters/objects into real spaces (e.g., Pokémon Go).
- Education: Overlaying 3D models on textbooks to aid understanding (e.g., anatomy).
- Retail: Visualizing products (e.g., furniture) in a customer’s home before purchase.
- Medical: Displaying medical imaging (e.g., MRI) over a patient’s body during surgery.
- Military and aviation: Presenting maps or control panels in real time for situational awareness.
Related terms
Section titled “Related terms”- Virtual reality — creates a completely artificial environment, in contrast to AR which enhances the existing environment.