Visual Experiences

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28-09-2021
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The world is shifting to a digital age and might as well be surpassing those boundaries. The technological developments that were thought not possible are now becoming a possibility. Many establishments have transitioned to digital mediums. An increase of 26% into the digital age has become the census due to the Covid 19 pandemic.

Humans thrive as they adapt and survive. The neanderthals survived harsh winters by utilizing fire, evolved humans survived the dreaded smallpox pandemic by creating vaccines and eradicating it. Even with changing situations, Homosapiens have the capabilities to adapt.

During the Worldwide pandemic, industries could not stop working and hence shifted to a digitally enabled methodology. Augmented Reality is one such process that has brought about change to the way we see the world. It has paved the way for the creation of 'new' and improved office work. Let's dive in and see what AR has to offer in the coming Cognitive Era.

Augmented Reality

Augmented Reality is a process by which digital holograms are placed in the real-world to make the user feel as those things are present. The digital image occupies the space within real-time and places an interactive model that is 'augmented'.

The applications of Augmented Reality were first prophesied in movies like Star Wars, Star Trek, etc. where meetings were held through holograms. Individuals could speak with each other from the comfort of their home, a deep dark forest, or even space. The applications are limitless. Let's see how it works.

How does Augmented Reality work?

Augmented Reality follows an intricate process but produces astounding results. Using a smartphone or AR lenses, the device maps a room or environment and gathers information. This information is analyzed and assessed. The data stores can include a backlight, information regarding objects within the vicinity of the environment, or even personal information regarding individuals.

To put it simply, imagine that you have bought a new house. You have no damn clue as to how to approach to decorate it. AR can help you out.

Through AR, the device maps the environment of the room. Every inch of the room, up to the paint, and layers behind the wall are analyzed and assessed. This analysis is done based on a first-person perspective from the user. 3D objects can be inserted in this environment, and they will be rendered in such a way that, they will be seen from a first-person perspective. AR technology is modern enough to assess backlight capabilities, graphical models, etc. into objects and create a life-like simulation.

Primitive models of AR:

Consumers have only been introduced to primitive models of AR up until now. Let's see what they are.

Pokemon Go

If you haven't been asleep for the past few years, you might know as well as I do what Pokemon GO was. It was a controversial game using AR technology that took the world by storm.

The idea for this Open world AR simulation game was first conceptualized 20 years before its release. The Pokemon games that were released then were open world but this idea hanged on the creator's minds. AR technology has come a long way and, it has reached a point to create an immersive environment.

Pokemon GO! Used a primitive concept of placing digital copies of Pokemon in the real world and, just like the anime, they envisioned us to be Pokemon masters and capture the Pokemon. Through AR, the immersive gameplay attracted several people to witness the change.

It was through this game the first applications of AR were recognized by a consumer dynamic.

Snapchat and Instagram

Social media is a medium that every single person uses every second of each day. The bunny ears and dog faces on Snapchat and Instagram filters are created using AR. It has created quite a buzz, and in addition to this, face morphing technology has also been utilized by AR.

These are some of the primitive examples of first introductions of AR to the whole demographic, but would you believe me if I told you that we have only scratched the surface of this technology?

Well, you are in for the ride of a lifetime.

But first, I have to explain some concepts to you regarding AR, VR, and MR. Let's get to it.

The distinction between AR and VR

Several people have trouble distinguishing both these processes. The concept is quite similar but, the application is vastly different.

The purpose of VR or virtual reality is to seclude us from the physical world. It wishes to immerse us in a different world altogether. VR technology is used vastly in VR games such as Dragon Ball VR and Batman Arkham VR.

Through VR headsets, users are immersed in a world which is not their own. Imagine if you could be transported to Planet Namek in Dragon Ball VR and play as the popular character Goku. As per the latest gameplay news, users can create a Kamehameha wave to target enemies within the game and eradicate them. Being a hardcore Dragon Ball Z fan, there is nothing more I can ask for.

If you wish to immerse yourself in the gruesome world of Arkham and become The Batman that is also possible by VR headsets. Grab enemies using your grappling hook and stealthily take down the enemies using fear.

Immersive VR technologies have changed the gaming industry in ways that you can never imagine possible. An immersive gaming experience proves to be much more addictive than anything witnessed before.

Unlike VR, AR focuses on the real world. The realm we are a part of. Through the AR application, digital objects can be placed within the real world through a digital space. Augment means to Add or enhance and, Augmented reality envisions to enhance the real-world application for much more interactive understanding.

VR and AR are two different sides of a coin but are intertwined in many ways. It envisions a future that is much more immersive than the real world. Let's see what these two technologies can offer.

Mixed Reality — The Future we never saw coming

Mixed Reality is the conjoining of AR and VR technology. Several companies like Occulus Quest by Facebook and Holo Lens 2 by Microsoft are the front runners in the use of this technology.

The culmination of AR and VR has led to the inception of a Mixed Reality or MR, much more interactive than ever witnessed at a scale as big as this. To explain this technology, I will be resorting to a scenario.

Imagine that you have to design the architectural layout for a firm. You are situated inside the warehouse in Mumbai. One of your teammates is located in the U.K, and the other one is in Germany. The MR device analyzes the whole environment and assesses each nook and cranny of the complex. 3d interactive models are before you and, you can arrange them in any order as per your wishes.

Interacting with digital objects in the real world along with the inclusion of smart technologies such as holograms for your teammates to exist in a virtual seamlessly, flowing environment to execute a task is known as Mixed Reality.

It is predicted that this technology will take over industries by 2022 and, offices will never be the same again.

The Scientific and Advanced Applications of AR

We have discussed AR, VR, and MR. We can now move forward to the actual application of AR.

AR has been used in medical facilities, research facilities to learn and interact with several objects and learn much more about things. Doctors have used AI-infused AR technology to analyze cancer patients and detect anomalies in the body with a live feed. A medical practitioner could see the cancer cells moving in real-time and that could help them diagnose the disease better.

AR technology is also used in microscopes to examine virus strains and provide real-time input feed. This could potentially accelerate the process of observing multiplication in several cells and help scientists discover solutions much more quickly.

Through AR technology, surgeons can assess the functioning of organs in real-time and figure out issues within human beings without operating on them. Several human lives could be potentially saved using this technology.

Consequences

Data Collection

AR is an application that can analyze an environment and all objects within it. AR joined with AI technologies, has already started listing out details of shops and monuments. What if that same technology made changes in individuals.

If you are wearing AR glasses, and you're walking down a lane, you could potentially see all information pertaining to a person. Home addresses, Facebook status, etc. It is both good and bad. The bad effects could become a point of the invasion of privacy. People could protrude into your life without consent and that is a consequence that must be dealt with as soon as possible. New laws need to be erected to avoid this debacle.

The Future Scope of AR

AR is going to be an advancement that is going to be a part of society for quite a long time. It is not something that is going to disappear soon. AR coupled with VR will create new future possibilities and ideas that have never been seen before. Here are some of the prospects I believe are a given for AR.

Education

The educational field is going to prosper due to this technology. 10 years before, we had 'smart interactive classes' where everyone was taught several subjects through interactive 3D videos. Gone are those times.

In this new age, AR will provide 3D models for each and every subject. Children could interact with these models to understand the crux behind this model.

In a scenario where the part of an atom is being explained, students could dissect an atom in the digital space to reveal the neutrons and electrons within it and learn about its properties in an interactive session. Through this method, education could be made productive and, the children could retain much more information.

Businesses

Businesses are going to see a drastic change in the next 5 years. Ever since the Covid 19 pandemic, everything has become digital. Through devices such as Oculus quest and holo lens 2, employees could create a virtual workstation to get through with day-to-day affairs. Such a simple and effective way could potentially lead to remote working space and contribute to several profits.

A business would not require accommodating employees in a building if employees were virtually present in the digital space.

Research and Development

This industry has closely been working with AR technology and has jumped leaps and bounds in this sector. Through AR simulation, space agencies could do test runs to figure out what precautions need to be taken to avoid failure of launch.

Through AR technology the Mars Rover could display a digital environment of Mars with a live feed so that, a scientist could examine certain aspects of the surface of Mars. We could be in more sync with our mysterious sister planet, Mars.

Healthcare

This industry is about to face a lot of change in the upcoming 10 years. AR technology will create opportunities to analyze data with much more ease. Several professionals are not precise as to the examination of several viruses and operations are not done with precision. AR technology could enhance their perspectives and train upcoming doctors to become ready for the medical field.

In the blink of an eye, the world shifted from the Digital age to the Cognitive Era. We are living in an information era that has never been witnessed in the years before. AR technology could bring about several changes within our society the way we interact could become much more immersive with the use of this technology. Every technological advancement is paving way for a future that was only possible in science fiction. Curious as we are, it leads us to believe, what will be next?

Until Next Time

See ya!

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Disclaimer: The information included at this site is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional. Because of unique individual needs, the reader should consult their physician to determine the appropriateness of the information for the reader’s situation.