What is Augmented Reality?

Augmented reality is growing in the mind of the general population as of late. There have been recent augmented reality applications released for smartphones. This is one of the first steps in bringing something once only seen in sci-fi movies straight into our lives. 

So what is augmented reality? Let's take the word "augment" and define it first. Augment means "to make greater, more numerous, larger, or more intense", according to Merriam-Webster.com. Now combine that with the word "reality", which is what is around you, what is real. This means augmented reality is making what is around you greater, more numerous or more intense. This might be an adequate definition of augmented reality. However, it is easier to understand augmented reality by looking at examples of it.

A very exciting example of augmented reality is a software application called Layar. Layar is a "reality browser" available for Android and iPhone smartphones. It uses the phone's camera viewer to add a "layer" of reality to everyday situations. The user opens the application and holds their phone up like they are taking a picture of their surroundings. Instead of taking a picture though, Layar provides the user with an augmented reality and shows them all kinds of information.

A "layer" from Layar can show you additional information about anything around you. If you are in a city street and open up Layar, it can show you the name of the building next to you, the nearest restaurants, and wikipedia articles about the monument behind you. Instead of walking around and hoping these things are labeled and have signs pointing to them, you can use Layar to augment your reality. It can tell the user all about a building or monument. And all he or she has to do is point a phone at them. Layar can even tell you what other people around you are talking about. It is integrated with Twitter, so you can see what people are tweeting about that restaurant you are about to go in. And it's in real time, so you could even meet a new friend that loves Chinese food as much as you do!

Layar is a great example of augmented reality. However, the most exciting examples are those that are in the works. Such as augmented reality contact lenses. Just imagine: a computer interface in a lens that a person can put in his eye. As a wearer of contact lenses, I can imagine the endless possibilities of this technology. Just like Layar, one would be able to place all kinds of information on top of his or her surroundings. The idea has been put forth by a bionanotechnology researcher named Babak Parviz. He even imagines a day when your health status can be determined by these lenses. This would greatly help diabetic patients with constant blood glucose monitoring.

The world of augmented reality might be in its infancy, but it shows great promise. Imagine a day when you can access your digital data through a lens on your eye rather than a desktop computer. Surfing the internet at any moment without moving at all will be the norm. We will be checking our email while eating lunch, but not having to lug around a laptop or even a cell phone. So keep a look out because augmented reality is coming our way. And it looks to be a revolutionary milestone for technology.