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It’s understandable to feel underwhelmed by augmented reality thus far; AR won’t really become interesting and practical in a mass market way until it can do more than just place 3D objects on tables. Despite this, AR is already changing our urban lives, even if the technology’s effects aren’t being felt at a mass scale yet. I’ve interviewed three AR entrepreneurs who explain three key ways that AR is set to transform urban living.
The real world will be indexed
Google has undoubtedly changed billions of lives. By indexing the web, Google has enabled us to find virtually anything we need with the click of a button. However, as the internet evolves from 2D computer screens into a 3D internet that overlays the real world, an entirely new paradigm for navigating, identifying, and organizing data will be required. That is, trying to get information about the objects, places, and people in the space immediately around you is a complex process that is dramatically different from typing a search into Google on Firefox. However, once solved, this “indexing of the real world” will make our urban lives richer and easier to navigate.
Amir Adamov is the CEO of Fringefy, a connected-car focused platform that allows users to conduct visual searches for places in the real world. He expands on this point: “Humans naturally use vision to identify, process, and express information about the physical world. Similarly, smartphones can enhance our ability to use visual recognition to index unique points of interest in the urban environment. Although GPS allows us to identify where we are in a city, it does not enable us to actually augment visual information into our world.”
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Boyagdis continues: “There is a long road ahead to making AR optics safe and not distracting in high-velocity situations. Popular media has most people expecting an “iron man” type experience, although the state of the tech today is more along the lines of Google Glass’ HMD. It’s crucial for the industry to focus on making simple and effective solutions that work well within the current constraints of the hardware. In doing so, we can ensure that AR evolves into a platform that helps, instead of hinders, public safety in transport.”
Language will be less of a barrier
Being completely immersed in a foreign city and culture can be intoxicating for tourists. However, for the business traveler on a project abroad, language barriers can be a major hindrance in navigating basic situations like ordering food or asking for directions. This problem is exacerbated in situations that require interpretation with a deeper level of cultural nuance, much to Google’s chagrin.
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Source: Venture Beat