What is Augmented Reality?
Augemented Reality is the use of technology to supplement the real world with sensory input such as sound, video, graphics and GPS. Essentially the real-world is modified by a computer and the surrounding of the real world of the user becomes interactive and digitally malleable.
 |
| Microsoft Hololens |
This is not to be confused with VR or virtual reality. With virtual reality the user's world is completely replaced by the virtual one. AR technology enhances the users perception of the real world by overlaying objects in a spatially intelligent way.
Hardware
Currently there are several AR devices already available or under development. Here are just a few:
Microsoft Hololens
Magic Leap
Sony SmartEyeGlass
Google Glass
While there are different ways to augment reality all of these devices have the same goal, to modify the user's perception of their surroundings.
Microsoft Hololens
Magic Leap
Sony SmartEyeGlass
Google Glass
While there are different ways to augment reality all of these devices have the same goal, to modify the user's perception of their surroundings.
AR technology available today comes in the form of smart phones and handheld gaming devices. Both iOS and Android devices have AR apps and games you can currently purchase and use. Additionally both the Nintendo 3DS and PS Vita both have AR gaming apps available. While these devices show the potential gaming applications of AR, the glaring limitation is that they provide a very small window for which to view the augmented objects that are overlaid on the real-world environment.
 |
| Nintendo 3DS AR Game |
The next phase of AR devices that are currently under development will take AR gaming to next level and provide a far more engaging experience for the user. HMDs or head-mounted displays place images of the virtual and real world over the user's field of view. Modern HMDs make use of sensors to detect the user's head movement in order to align the virtual information to the real world and make adjustments accordingly. This creates a far more immersive and interactive experience as the user's entire field of view is incorporated. An example of this type of device that you may be familar with is Google Glass. Currently several big name tech companies are developing their own HMDs including Microsoft, Sony, and Samsung. Recently Google was one of several venture companies that invested $542 Billion dollars in AR startup Magic Leap.
 |
| Sample Image from Magic Leap HMD |
AR Gaming
There are two reasons that I feel AR will be a big part of gaming in the near future. First, large tech companies are spending a lot of money to develop these technolgies and put them in the hands of the consumers. Two, gamers are always looking forward to the next big thing or advacement.
If you consider that in the last 30+ years the way we play games has not really changed very much. Since the Atari 2600 the basic components of the gamer's experience have remained the same. You have the gaming device, some form of a handheld controller and a display. Now the technology has certainly advanced since the 80's. Graphics are rapidly approaching near-releastic quality, displays have gotten bigger and better, controllers have become more ergonomic and feature-rich, and gaming engines include realistic physics.
Devices like the Nintendo Wii and Kinect have moved gamers a step forward in the way that they interact with games, but not in the immersive way that AR has the potential to do. Imagine sitting down to play Call of Duty but instead of merely sitting on your coach, you need to take cover behind it. Imagine running down the hallway in your house while having to put down supressing fire to get to the next objective. See the demo of gaming on the Magic Leap below.
These are the types of interactions that AR is promising and it will fundamentally change the way we play games and enhance our experience with them. Any environment in the real world can become canvas on which games are played and the user will be able to fully interact with the phyical and virtual world. The possibility of our environment becoming the game is truly exciting and opens up nearly endless possibilities for devolpers. Several game developers are already embracing the technology. It will be games that help foster the technology and bring it to the masses. I know I am ready for the next step in gaming experience.
If you consider that in the last 30+ years the way we play games has not really changed very much. Since the Atari 2600 the basic components of the gamer's experience have remained the same. You have the gaming device, some form of a handheld controller and a display. Now the technology has certainly advanced since the 80's. Graphics are rapidly approaching near-releastic quality, displays have gotten bigger and better, controllers have become more ergonomic and feature-rich, and gaming engines include realistic physics.
Devices like the Nintendo Wii and Kinect have moved gamers a step forward in the way that they interact with games, but not in the immersive way that AR has the potential to do. Imagine sitting down to play Call of Duty but instead of merely sitting on your coach, you need to take cover behind it. Imagine running down the hallway in your house while having to put down supressing fire to get to the next objective. See the demo of gaming on the Magic Leap below.
These are the types of interactions that AR is promising and it will fundamentally change the way we play games and enhance our experience with them. Any environment in the real world can become canvas on which games are played and the user will be able to fully interact with the phyical and virtual world. The possibility of our environment becoming the game is truly exciting and opens up nearly endless possibilities for devolpers. Several game developers are already embracing the technology. It will be games that help foster the technology and bring it to the masses. I know I am ready for the next step in gaming experience.
No comments:
Post a Comment