What is Augmented Reality?

There are quite a few papers and websites on Augmented Reality (AR) out there. I am looking at mobile Augmented Reality for my work.

The general focus on AR is that it will give a layer virtual information to a persons physical environment in real time, and that this will enhance the persons experience as it will give them digital information and communication capabilities. This mixed environment will be interactive and is potentially one of the next big technologies. The AR Toolkit website is more specific with this, according this there is are video and optical see-through ARs. Video see-through AR is where virtual images are overlaid on live video of the real world. Optical see-through AR is where computer graphics are overlaid on a view of the real world. Optical see-through AR typically requires a see-through head mounted display and has more complicated camera calibration and registration requirements. I will be focusing on video see-through AR.

Now, there are AR applications for mobile phones like Yelp for the iPhone and Wikitude and Layar for the Android, which shows houses for sale, restaurants, shops, and tourist attractions. There are applications that let the user see the nearest subway station, or even the Twitter statuses being made around them. There are games being developed and even the governments are taking notice, examples seen here and here.

Image 1: Layar

An idea from Mobile Augmented Reality that I really like is that the world will become a user interface, aligning virtual objects with real ones. Even more, it will enable people to take advantage of the existing skills and interact with objects in the real world in an enhanced way.
AR could be used in all walks of life, from journalism to military training.

This technology typically uses global tracking, wireless communications, location based computing, cameras and mobile computing. As well as a lot of battery life for the devices, and computational power. The popular AR development software that I found were the AR Toolkit and the PTAM.

Image 2: Example of AR Toolkit on phone

In the past a lot of research was invested in wearable computers that would augment reality for the user, now though with mobile phones and the GSP capabilities out there  the research and applications are based around these, although other types of devices are being developed such as AR contact lenses.

More Resources:
Augmented Reality: Linking Real and Virtual Worlds
MIT STEP's Handheld Augmented Reality Simulations Site
Wikitude Drive Android App Does Turn-By-Turn, Augmented-Reality-Style
Image 1: Layar Brings Semi-Augmented Reality to Your Android Phone
Image 2: ArtToolKit – Augmented Reality Application for iPhone