Technology;|;DOI: 10.1145/1785414.1785422
Kirk;L.;Kroeker
mainstreaming
augmented Reality
Advancements in computer vision, object recognition, and related technologies
are leading to new levels of sophistication in augmented-reality applications
and presenting new ways for humans to relate to the natural world.

SiNCe The eMerGeNCe of the first augmented-reality ap- plications 20 years ago, the field has drawn a great deal of interest and enthusiasm, not only from researchers working in computer science at the cutting edge of graphics technologies, but also from leaders in aerospace, medicine, the military, and a wide range of other industries and government sectors. In augmented reality (AR), a real-world setting or set of objects is augmented by a computer-generated overlay. Advancements in computer vision, object recognition, and related technologies are increasing the level of sophistication of that overlay, and presenting entirely new ways for humans to relate to the natural world.

While a great deal of research is being conducted in this area, given the promise of the technology to have a major impact in industrial and consumer applications, significant challenges remain, such as the accuracy of Global Positioning System- (GPS-)

an augmented reality game called ARhrrrr! developed at Georgia tech and the savannah college of art and Design. in the game, the graphics are tightly registered to a physical game board using an image-based feature tracker developed at Graz university.

Pho ToGRAPh CouRTesy oF blAIR MACIn TyRe AnD s TeVen FeIneR

augmented-reality
applications are
increasingly compact
and powerful, and
many of them require
nothing more than
a current-generation
smartphone.

or compass-based AR applications, the bulkiness of head-mounted displays, and other issues endemic to the sciences and systems upon which AR technologies rely. Still, researchers developing AR systems continue to build increasingly compact and powerful applications, many of which require nothing more than a current-generation smartphone.

Examples of mobile AR applica-
tions include Layar, a “reality browser”
that retrieves point-of-interest data on
the basis of GPS, compass, and cam-
era view, and GraffitiGeo, an appli-
cation that lets users read and write
virtual Twitter-style comments on the
walls of restaurants, movie theaters,
and cafes. Both applications are avail-
able for the iPhone platform. Another
example is Goggles, a Google-created
application that allows users to search
the Web on Android phones simply by
capturing photos of landmarks or oth-
er objects. The technology also allows
users to point the phone’s camera at
local storefronts to retrieve business
information automatically with GPS
and compass data.