I’m sure you might have played “pokemon-go” game!

Augmented Reality (AR) is changing the way we view the world or at least the way its users see the world. Picture yourself walking or driving down the street. With augmented-reality displays, which will eventually look much like a normal pair of glasses, informative graphics will appear in your field of view, and audio will coincide with whatever you see. These enhancements will be refreshed continually to reflect the movements of your head.

What is Augmented reality?
Augmented reality (AR), is a live direct or indirect view of a physical, real-world environment whose elements are augmented by computer-generated sensory input such as sound, video, graphics or GPS data.
Various technologies are used in Augmented Reality rendering including optical projection systems, monitors, hand held devices, and display systems worn on the human body. Also head-up display, also known as a HUD, is a transparent display that presents data without requiring users to look away from their usual viewpoints. A precursor technology to augmented reality.

Where Augmented reality can be used?
Augmented reality has many applications. First used for military, industrial, and medical applications, by 2012 its use expanded into entertainment and other commercial industries. Also many startup are using AR in navigation, education, maintenance and repair, gaming, interior-design, and advertising and promotion.

What is Virtual reality (VR)?
Virtual reality (VR) is an artificial recreation of the real world that immerses the user in a computer-generated simulated reality. The technology requires expensive enablers such as headsets, which completely block out the users’ surroundings. However, because of the nature of the technology, the user is left blind to the outside world, leaving the technology at a disadvantage when it comes to everyday use.

What is different between Virtual Reality vs. Augmented Reality?

One of the biggest confusions in the world of augmented reality is the difference between augmented reality and virtual reality.  Both are earning a lot of media attention and are promising tremendous growth.

1) Augmented reality and virtual reality are inverse reflections of one in another with what each technology seeks to accomplish and deliver for the user. Virtual reality offers a digital recreation of a real life setting, while augmented reality delivers virtual elements as an overlay to the real world.

2) VR and AR are not really competing technologies, but rather complimentary technologies
3) VR is more immersive, AR provides more freedom for the user, and more possibilities for marketers because it does not need to be a head-mounted display.

What is the Market Size of Augmented reality?
Worldwide revenues for the augmented reality and virtual reality market are projected to approach $14 billion in 2017, according to IDC, the market research firm. But that’s forecast to explode to $143 billion by 2020.
Ref:

http://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS42331217
http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/augmented-reality-virtual-reality.asp

Startup working on Augmented reality?

• http://www.imaginate.in
  Hyderabad-based Imaginate, a virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) company, is the developer of NuSpace, a hardware-agnostic collaboration platform that enables people to communicate in an interactive realistic virtual world.
• http://www.vizexperts.com
  Founded in 2004, VizExperts’ clientele includes Border Security Force (BSF), Defence Research and Development Organisations (DRDO), Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) and international conglomerates such as Halliburton, AMD and SGI. The company’s solutions offer improved situational awareness to security forces in a 3D format.
• http://www.houssup.com

  Thank you,
  Arun Bagul