Shift form Virtual (VR) Augmented (AR) Reality

We are in the midst of a fundamental shift away from the more traditional Virtual Reality to a more subtle and fully integrated Augmented Reality. While much of this technology is still in the development and testing stages some have reached production and many are lagging behind waiting on a network truly capable of supporting the use intended by designers/developers. While VR has been popular for many years it generally consists of expensive equipment, restricted movement and limited interaction with reality.

Virtual reality is a “replacement reality” and is almost never mistaken as reality. It is an entirely virtual made up world that has no way of interacting with the real world and generally requires limited mobility of the user. Augmented reality on the other hand is mostly real world (75%ish) with additional content seamlessly integrated and once we apply two basic rules the average person will not be able to distinguish real world from augmented content. Rule one keep three feet between yourself and others, rule 2 never touch anything unless necessary.

Augmented reality (AR) has been around for decades but the technology to truly make it a “Reality” has only been publicly available for the last few years. For true full scale AR you need several things, first you must have an incredible wireless network to handle the immense volume of data (the data stream) required to render 4D graphics in real time, second you need lightweight affordable hardware to process and display these graphics, third you need to condition the general public to keep enough space between one another (let’s say 6′) so that there is room to display “augmented content” into the real world and lastly everyone needs to be conditioned not to touch ANYTING unless they have permission or a legitimate reason to do so.

The data stream will soon be complete, the hardware is already available and will continue to become more integrated through things like smart glass, AR windshields, glasses, contact lenses and even retinal implants, as a result of the “pandemic” we have now been conditioned to keep space between ourselves and others in addition to not touching anyone or anything without express permission. the stage is set and it will lead to the inevitable acceleration of real world augmentation on a mass scale.

Gaming

In part 7 of this series I will cover the future of gaming in far more detail so the remarks here will only cover how AR relates the future of games. It would be impossible to write about the either the beginnings of AR or the future without acknowledging the contributions of the gaming world. Many of the advances in AR technology and real world testing comes from that multi-billion dollar industry.

Probably the most known AR application is the poke’mon GO game launched in 2016 and currently has over 140 Million active daily users with 2+ billion dollars in annual revenue. Players of this game use their mobile device (cellphone/tablet) the chase, capture & fight mythical creatures that through AR have seemingly been added to our reality. These creatures are currently only visible through the screen of a wirelessly connected mobile device but in the future such augmentation will be available with compact lightweight and affordable glasses.

There are now over 100 games available using similar formats and technology. In the near future “Traditional 2D/3D” games as well as VR games will be considered obsolete. Games will no longer be processed by a console, tethered by a controller or limited by a viewing screen such as an antiquated television set. Based of predictions by HP, Sony, Nintendo and others I foresee at least 350 million active daily AR gamers by 2024.

Entertainment

This Topic will also be covered in detail in Part 7 of this series but for the purpose of this article it is sufficient to say the television as we know it will likely cease to exist within our lifetimes. There will be no reason to limit the viewing of digitized content to a single spot in your home. The line between movie and reality to continue to blur past the point of separation. Television style content will be available anywhere anytime and may or may not include content from the real world. movies may not be the same every time you watch them and everyone watching the movie (even on the same screen) may have different experiences and even view differing content.

Movies and shows will be integrated and overlayed with augmented content. Commercials will no longer exist as stand alone segments but will become part of the entertainment you are currently watching and will be ever evolving.

Healthcare

I will cover the future of the healthcare industry very extensively is part 9 of this series. For this post I will briefly touch on a few of the ways AR will be used in the healthcare field. AccuVein is one example. The handheld device uses a laser-based technology to “see” through your skin and into your veins. It’s intended to make it easier for doctors, nurses, or others to find a vein to draw blood or place an IV.

The ability to visually overlay previously collected data onto the patient in real time is where we will see the largest application for the healthcare industry. In June 2020, neurosurgeons at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore announced the first augmented reality surgery. A doctor used it to help place six screws during a spinal surgery to help with serious back pain. Soon after, they used it to remove a spinal tumor from another patient.

Wearing the AR headset will allow doctors to see things like MRI’s, CT scans, x-rays, vein scans, ultrasounds and other data collected projected onto the actual patient and even see some of them simultaneously all while administering treatment or conducting a surgery.

Advertising

Advertising in my opinion is one of the most technologically advanced sectors in existence. I will be covering the current use and future of advertising in Part 6 of this series. In relation to AR the uses for advertising are almost endless.

Most advertising in the future will be targeted through use of augmented reality. We will see signs, posters billboards, ads on the floor, even building walls will become universal target ad space.

GPS

The future of geolocation, navigation, tracking and mapping will be entirely AR based. With a combination of smart windscreens mobile devices and contact lenses we will be able to visually see augmented digital markers directing us to the desired address or location. These markers will be indistinguishable from real world painted markers.

In the future we will be directed by GPS not to an address or a location but instead to a specific parking spot. After exiting the vehicle your smart glasses or contacts with resume navigation and take you to the specific shelf, office or room you were looking for.

Education

The use of “Virtual” learning during the pandemic has conditioned everyone to be more accepting of remote educational content delivery. In the future it is likely that a combination of remote learning and augmented reality will replace traditional schools altogether.