Augmented reality (AR) is the concept of using digital technology to overlay virtual objects onto a user’s view of the real world. It’s one of the most popular emerging technologies today that can be used in a variety of fields and industries. When it comes to different types of augmented reality, there are several ways this technology is being used. From gaming to shopping, to advertising and marketing, and beyond, AR has a wide range of applications. Here is an overview of different AR types and how they are being used today:
Real-Time Augmented Reality
This is the most common AR that we see today. In real-time AR, the digital objects are overlaid on a particular real-world view of the user. For example, a user can walk around a shopping mall and a digital image of a product will appear on the screen when they get close to it. This type of AR is able to overlay digital information on top of the real world. It’s called “real-time” because digital information is shared in real-time between the computer, the camera, and the user’s device. AR in real-time is also referred to as “immediate-computation AR” or “near-real-time AR.”
Online Augmented Reality
With online AR, the digital objects are not directly overlaid on the real-world view of the user. Instead, the digital objects are shown on a digital layer in the user’s online environment. The online layer can be on a website, an app, or a virtual world. For example, a store can have a page that shows virtual shelves with product details. A recipe app can have a layer that shows the ingredients as you are cooking a dish. This is often referred to as “stacked reality” or “re-contextualization” because the digital objects are not directly overlaid on the real world view.
Distinctive Augmented Reality
Distinctive AR is an approach that uses specific hardware or software that can identify a user’s surroundings and create a distinct AR experience around them. This is a relatively new approach to AR that has been gaining momentum. It’s especially helpful for those with visual impairments.
Mixed/Hybrid Augmented Reality
This is the combination of different types of AR. For example, a digital layer showing a product on a shelf can also have a real world view of the user where the product is visible. This is often referred to as “hybrid AR” because it mixes real and virtual views of the world.
VR Based on Augmented Reality
VR-based AR is the use of virtual reality to create augmented reality Malaysia. For example, a user wearing a VR headset can walk into a dental office, and a digital layer showing the patient’s treatment plan and details will appear on the screen.
Conclusion
While the concept of augmented reality has been around for a long time, it has been gaining momentum in the last few years as more players enter the market and as the costs of AR-related hardware and software continue to fall. That’s why we’re seeing new types of augmented reality emerge, including real-time, online, distinctive, hybrid, VR-based, and more. Whether it’s gaming, advertising, marketing, healthcare, or any other industry, the use of AR can have a significant impact on how we live, work, and play.
