AR: The Future of Wearable Technology
From the HoloLens to the upcoming Apple Glass, the future of augmented reality is looking bright.
We all grew up dreaming about the future. Most of us have also seen movies about the future, but was any of it real? As we near the end of 2020, we can see technology has come a far way from those old, clunky computers. Nowadays, we have small, sleek smartphones, smartwatches, and tablets that are more advanced than the first unmanned rockets sent to the moon. This rapid advance in technology has brought some marvelous inventions.
If you’re like most people, when you think about the future, you see holograms and fancy glasses that work like computers. Well, you might be surprised to know that this technology has been around for a while. From Google Glass to the current Microsoft HoloLens, augmented reality (AR) has taken the world by storm.
What Exactly is AR and What Can it Do?
Augmented reality is an interactive environment in which computer-generated objects and images appear in the real world. In simple terms, you wear fancy glasses or a headset that makes it seem like the device is creating holograms. This technology has many functions that range from an immersive experience for pleasure to business and corporate uses. This allows doctors to practice surgeries or team managers to have remote meetings with their staff.
As AR tech gets better, the number of applications of these devices also increases. Jio, an India-based subsidiary of Reliance Industries, has already taken the initiative to create a viable pair of AR glasses.
These glasses will let you do many simple tasks like reading a text or checking the weather. Students will also be able to interact with their teachers in a classroom environment. This will prove very useful, as schools start in the fall and students can’t leave their houses because of COVID-19.
How Does AR Work?
Augmented reality technology works in a rather unique way, as it projects images into your retinas. Most AR devices have a prismatic reflector and a mini laser projector. This projector reflects an image through the prism and onto a glass screen, or more commonly, your retinas. This process creates the illusion that there is a virtual object in your environment, which allows for a hands-free interactive environment. In addition to this, most AR headsets have a front-facing camera and a built-in audio system. The front-facing camera is used to take photos and scan you and your environment to produce accurate virtual objects that you can interact with your hands.
Before you think that projecting lasers into your eyes may be dangerous, let me tell you that safety testing has been conducted. As of right now, there is no harm in using AR headsets. AR headsets are even being built into prescription glasses! This means people with vision issues can view both the outside world and the AR images without any issues. For people who do not have glasses, the AR sets will be built into non-prescription glasses for their use.
Who Is Working on AR?
Currently, many companies have put time, effort, and money into creating and producing AR apps and headsets. Companies like Google have already tried selling AR glasses, but due to issues with the prismatic reflector melting in hot weather, production was canceled. This did not phase other companies, however, as Microsoft launched a professional version of AR headsets, the HoloLens. Later, they created an improved version, the HoloLens 2. Both products have been successful and have proven the potential market for augmented reality tech. Apple is also rumored to be working on the Apple Glass, which is their take on AR headsets. Reliance Industries has also recently announced the launch of Jio Glass last July. As of right now, Google is not working on any AR headsets, but they have created many AR apps and services in Google Play like Google Lens.
Every day, a new mind dreams of new innovations. As time progresses, these innovations will further enhance both wearable technology and augmented reality technology. The market for AR has been proven, and the functions are numerous. Large companies like Microsoft, Apple, and Reliance are working on different versions of AR tech, and many more will start in the future. Just like smartphones, this luxury will soon become a necessity in our future, and I can’t wait.
