WHAT IS AUGMENTED REALITY?
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What most of us are familiar with is virtual reality. You strap a bulky headset onto your head, most probably connect it to your PC, and you are transported into a completely different world. But what if you wanted to experience another virtual reality without being tethered to your PC and without zoning out completely? This is where augmented reality comes in.
With AR, you are simply adding bits of virtual reality onto the actual reality. Augmented reality devices usually come in the form of smart glasses. Something like Google Glass. You do not have to be connected to a PC to use them and since you are not zoning out completely, you can actually walk around and carry out activities while experiencing two different realities; a virtual one and the actual one.
For example, you can bring up a virtual screen in front of you. You can bring up an image of a flower vase and make it sit on an actual table. You can create holograms that blend in with actual objects around the room. In a decade or so, smart glasses are expected to replace most screened products. It’s hard to think of the beloved iPhone or Samsung Galaxy being defunct, right? But that is the kind of impact being predicted from the growth of augmented reality. The possibilities are astounding.
Augmented reality is expected to have wide and far reaching applications in fields like medicine, retail, engineering and travel.
Now, a look at the top AR glasses for 2016. If you want to take a dip into this novel technology, try out one of these products. If we have left out any notable one, feel free to add it in the comments.
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1. MICROSOFT HOLOLENS
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Microsoft is one of the biggest names in augmented reality, thanks to its highly acclaimed HoloLens device. Microsoft is aiming to be the first to make holograms a reality. When they first released thedeveloper edition of HoloLens it was immediately obvious that this was a hugely promising product.
The glasses use holograms to add a layer of virtual reality to your actual field of view. Artists can design virtual objects in 3D as if they were actual physical objects. You could set up the solar system in your living room and explore planet to planet as if they were actually suspended in midair. A recent VR/AR competition handed the first place award to a team that came up with an app that works with HoloLens to project a 3D hologram of the human body.
Medical students can then walk around, as long as they have the glasses on, and inspect every bit of the human body (muscles, bones, heart etc) without having to dissect a cadaver. Being a developer edition, Microsoft HoloLens has many flaws. It is not a consumer product, at least not yet. But the technology is promising and we could see some big improvements in the coming months.
But if you want to play around with it, get ready to shell out $3,000 for a pair of HoloLens glasses.
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2. MAGIC LEAP
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Magic Leap is a highly secretive startup reported to be developing augmented reality glasses. It works a lot like Microsoft HoloLens but with much more realistic graphics. You can project a mini elephant in front of you and even manipulate it with your hands. You can project a very realistic screen on your office desk and use it instead of your PC.
Many are calling Magic Leap the screen killer. It has the potential to replace computers and Smartphones as well as other screened devices.
There is not much we know about Magic Leap expect that it is developing a one of a kind product. It got over $1.4 billion in venture funding from names like Google, Qualcomm and Alibaba. If such heavy hitters were willing to give that much money, it must be something worth the hype and anticipation.
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3. SOLOS AR GLASSES
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During the 2016 Rio Olympics, US cyclists secured early access to anew wearable that would help them compete on the track.
The Solos Smart Cycling glasses provided to be hugely beneficial to cyclists at the competition. Solos are smart glasses made specifically for avid cyclists. At first glance, they resemble any other high quality cycling eyewear. But these glasses are one of a kind. The display shows real time activity data, allowing you to keep track of your performance without pausing.
When connected to various sensors, you can see real time data including speed, cadence, heart rate, power zones, distance and elevation. All this information is shown in a 4mm display, the smallest in the world. But with the glasses on, the data is clearly visible. This ensures that you can see your real time data while still getting a clear view of the road ahead.
When released (around October), it will be able to work with other cycling apps including Strava, MapMyRide and TrainingPeaks.
Fitness wearables are all the range right now and Solos could ride its way to the top through its innovative features and convenience. Unlike smartwatches, you do not have to keep glancing at your wrist to see how you are doing.
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4. VUZIX M300
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Meta is another AR product seeking to fashion itself after Microsoft HoloLens. Virtual holograms are integrated into actual reality. But these holograms are not there just to be seen; the user can grab them and even move them as if they were real physical objects. In what is now a familiar refrain when to comes to AR glasses, Meta is a potential screen killer.
With the glasses on, you can run your favorite Windows and Mac apps. No need to lug your PC around with you everywhere you go; just put on your glasses and you are good to go. The glasses provide a 90-degree field of view (unlike HoloLens’ 20 degrees), a 720p front mounted camera, audio speakers and an array of sensors.
Meta is designed for professional use by experts like architects and engineers. This is why it even includes an extra long power cable instead of a built-in battery. Using the glasses, professionals can design 3D objects, manipulate them and collaborate with colleagues on these designs.
You can preorder a Meta 2 development kit for $949.
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7. LASTER SEETHRU / LASTER WAVƎ
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Privacy has always been a touchy issue when it comes to augmented reality glasses. This was one of the biggest contributors to the downfall of Google Glass. It also led to the invention of the derisive term, “Glassholes”.
Laster is aiming to sidestep this issue by excluding a camera in itsSeeThru smart glasses. But in most other ways, it is very much like Google Glass. As you walk around or engage in an activity, the glasses project data on the display right in front of your pupils. For example if you are sightseeing, the display might bring up real time information about what you are seeing.
The glasses are packed with sensors for accurate head movement tracking. This ensures that the augmented reality is overlaid perfectly onto your surroundings. They also contain basic GPS to enable mapping and directions. Instead of looking at your phone, you can see the virtual directions directly in your field of view. Whether Laster SeeThru can succeed where Google Glass failed remains to be seen.
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8. EPSON MOVERIO BT-300
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Epson makes various improvements from the BT-200 smart glasses with a lighter and more appealing pair of eyeglasses. The BT-300 glasses come with a more stylish (not so geeky) look, lighter feel and added features.
Using an OLED display, the glasses project virtual images in more color and vibrancy. This helps enhance the realism of virtual images integrated into your surroundings. In addition, there is a 5MP camera mounted at the front. The Android-based smart eyeglasses are made with experts and professionals in mind, though there are quite a few features that would appeal to the ordinary consumer.
No price has been announced yet but considering that the BT-200 costs $700, we expect a higher price tag.
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9. RECON JET SMART GLASSES
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Source: Appcessories