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Augmented reality and virtual reality: What awaits us in the future?
Almost all large technology companies are involved and launch virtual reality and augmented reality glasses on the market. Microsoft has its HoloLens, Samsung its Gear and HTC its Vive, and Facebook and Ray-Ban are said to be working on smart glasses, to name just a few.
It's basically very simple: "Virtual Reality" (VR) describes a digital image of reality created on the computer.
The virtual reality glasses themselves allow the user to immerse themselves in a new artificially created world that appears deceptively real.
You can swim with whales in underwater worlds, explore a shipwreck, or walk through your new home before it is built
Interaction of digital and analog life
In contrast, "augmented reality" (AR) stands for the interaction between digital and analog life.
This sometimes works with the smartphone camera, but mainly with glasses as well. So these do not completely isolate the user from their normal environment, such as virtual reality glasses.
Rather, additional information about your surroundings is displayed on the glasses.
For example, a warehouse worker can be shown on which shelf the replacement part he is looking for can be found, or the mechanic can be shown useful information about the technical component he is supposed to repair.
Rapid development
There are already commercial applications and offerings for both areas, but since these are young new technologies, it will develop very quickly in the coming years.
It will be exciting to see what application scenarios, technical solutions and manufacturers will be established.
Augmented reality is tough
It looks completely different with virtual reality.
Technology has made significant advancements in the last five years: technology and ecosystems have matured, and VR glasses can be purchased at almost any electronics store, while stylish, high-performance, consumer-affordable AR glasses aren't even they are seeing the light of day and its possibilities.
There are good reasons for this: augmented reality is an extremely complex technology.
It is significantly more difficult to direct light into the eye through a transparent lens than through a screen directly in front of the eyes.
To be precise, about ten times more difficult than what the display expert, industrial veteran and RA skeptic Karl Guttag analyzes.
For years, Guttag has criticized the AR industry for its unrealistic promises and finds it impossible to build good AR glasses. "Good" here means: with a wide field of view, excellent image quality and a socially acceptable form factor that is suitable for everyday use. So good for everyone, not just tech nerds and factory workers.
Guttag is not impressed by the billions that Facebook and Apple invest in AR research. The laws of physics can't be bent, no matter how much time, money and talent you waste on them, Guttag believes.
Two lines of development
If sci-fi AR is impossible in the lightweight glasses form factor, what could take its place? Where will augmented reality realistically be in five or even ten years?
I can imagine two developments. On the one hand, in the direction of thin and everyday AR glasses, but technically limited, whose main function is AI-compatible daily assistance. On the other hand, in the direction of immersive video display AR VR headsets.
With this AR display, the environment is recorded using cameras built into the case and transmitted to the VR headset screens, which means that the captured reality can be digitally expanded as desired.
The thin AR glasses for everyday use, on the other hand, offer a comparatively narrow field of view and a simple display and are strongly profit oriented, for example for sports or navigation, whereas VR glasses are more likely to be used at home and used for entertainment, work or communication.
Only virtual reality headsets with a camera can display elaborate holograms with a wide field of view and mix the analog and digital world, as the Magic Leap envisioned years ago.
But they are bigger and thicker than the aforementioned AR glasses that are suitable for everyday wear.
