What is Augmented Reality?

Augmented Reality is an interactive, 3D experience, that enhances the real-world with digital elements. AR applications are most commonly used to activate AR on your smartphone. Using an AR app, you can hold your device over a page, and the camera screen will open so you can view your surroundings. The AR app will begin working and a 3D image will appear, superimposed. You can move the screen around to view the object from all angles. The physical and digital work are merged in real-time. AR creates new opportunities for educators to enhance their classroom, by inspiring students to engage with content in interactive and experimental ways. Not only does AR make complex and difficult subjects more accessible and easy to understand, it allows students to take control of their own learning.

In addition to using AR on mobile devices, you can also use AR glasses and holographic projectors. It is predicted that by 2025, the AR and VR (Virtual Reality) markets will generate over $100 billion (USD) in sales. It is also predicted that by 2025, educational software revenue will increase to $700 million (USD). For more information on these growth predictions, watch the Goldman Sachs AR/VR podcast and read their report on innovation in computer platforms. 

We created the following Infographic to walk you through how AR works, its functions, types, and processes.