Augmented Reality

    Augmented Reality (AR) is a variation of Virtual Environments (VE), or

Virtual Reality as it is more commonly called. VE technologies completely immerse

a user inside a synthetic environment. While immersed, the user cannot see the real

world around him. In contrast, AR allows the user to see the real world, with virtual

objects superimposed upon or composited with the real world. Therefore, AR

supplements reality, rather than completely replacing it. The figure shows an

example of what this might look like. It shows a real desk with a real phone. Inside

this room are also a virtual lamp and two virtual chairs. Note that the objects are

combined in 3-D, so that the virtual lamp covers the real table, and the real table

covers parts of the two virtual chairs.

    At least six classes of potential AR applications have been explored: medical

visualization, maintenance and repair, annotation, robot path planning, entertainment,

and military aircraft navigation and targeting.

Medical Application

Virtual Fetus

Mockup of virtual Breast Tumor

Manufacturing and Reapir Application

Annotation and Visualization

Robot Path Planning

Thanks for Mr. Ronald T. Azuma the first person who developed Augmented Reality