What is Augmented Reality?

Augmented Reality (AR) is a real-time and interactive experience created by combining the physical elements we perceive in the world around us with data from computer-based graphics, video, audio, GPS, etc. Thanks to the hardware and software used in Augmented Reality applications, virtual data is enriched by adding virtual data on the real world that we perceive in our environment. Augmented Reality, unlike Virtual Reality, does not involve the user in a computer-based virtual simulation in a way that detaches the user from reality, but enriches the existing reality.

Although AR technologies have been studied theoretically since the mid-1960s, they have gradually entered our lives, especially in the military fields, thanks to the image processing technologies that have developed since the early 1990s. AR technologies, which include Object Recognition and SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping), real-time mapping and positioning technologies, have made a rapid entry into our daily lives with the increasing capacity of their smart phones in recent years.

We can say that AR technologies started to gain recognition in the world with the emergence of PokemonGo application in 2016. The application, which has been downloaded more than 100 million worldwide, has also been included in the lists as one of the most grossing applications during its first period.

Although AR technology is known for its games like PokemonGo, IKEA Place application, which was published by IKEA in the same period, has led to its usage in different consumer segments. A previously unattainable experience, such as the freedom of users to test the appearance of the furniture they want to buy in their spaces, has led to a growing interest in Augmented Reality based applications.

In recent years, augmented reality applications have begun to be used in many different fields, especially with the introduction of more advanced lenses in the cameras as well as the processing capacities and image processing capacities of smartphones. From Mobile AR Oyunlar to entertainment applications, online shopping and Industry 4.0 solutions, Augmented Reality has become one of the most used technologies for brands and companies.

In addition to mobile devices, many major technologies such as Google and Microsoft are working on wearable and low Augmented Reality devices (Head-up-display) and launching new products. Google Glass is the first known AR-enabled Smart glasses, and HoloLens released by Microsoft in 2016 is one of the best known of these products. Apart from that, HUD, which Magic Leap has been working on for a long time with great confidentiality and will be launched at the end of 2018 under its own name, is an example of Augmented Reality based wearable products which are discussed in the world technology market. Augmented Reality (AR) technologies will be much more in 2019.