Tag: ar tech

A new company aims to transform video games into real-world experiences.

Semblance Augmented Reality is a company created by Mark Skwarek and the goal of the company is to free video games from a mere television experience and turn them into one that is physical, where a person can interact with an entire world of virtual characters, structures and objects in a real environment.

So far, Skwarek has managed to raise more than $30,000 in crowdfunding to launch Semblance.

Having raised over $30 thousand on Kickstarter, the group fundraising site, Skwarek is gearing up to release the first Semblance AR app for Android and iOS mobile phones. He recently demonstrated how the app works in New York City wearing Epson Moverio B200 glasses.

Although augmented reality (AR) is not a new concept, nor is the idea of combining AR with gaming, it is starting to become more mainstream due to an increase in popularity of wearable devices, such as smart glasses, smartwatches and fitness trackers. Furthermore, today, there is a wide range of mobile devices that are finally equipped with GPS tracking, camera technology and sensors that are strong enough to handle AR tech.

While AR tech can certainly improve upon a video gamer’s experience, use for this technology is also being explored in other areas where combining augmented reality with wearables could help solve practical problems hands-free. It is even showing promising results in the health sector.

According to Brian Ballard, CEO and founder of APX Labs, an AR software company, wearables will help empower deskless employees in the same way that mobile devices and computers have done for office workers. Wearable gadgets, like smart glasses, can provide workers with immediate access to information in real-time no matter where they are.

Augmented reality technology is not without its challenges.

According to Benjamin Arnold, a consumer tech analyst at the NPD Group, “The technology is here right now. It’s just implementing them in a product, showing consumers that it has a value and can do things better than they were doing before.”

However, one of the problems this tech faces is that internet connectivity and battery life of devices needs to be improved in order to make it efficient. However, Ballard believes that it will not be long before it becomes fully integrated into people’s lives. This may be particularly true for video gamers due to the success of augmented reality gaming apps like Skwarek’s.

Augmented reality is beginning to gain traction in many sectors, particularly entertainment. This technology is not new, having first been alluded to in 1901. In 1968, the first augmented reality headset was invented by Ivan Sutherland. Since then, the technology has been experiencing slow advances until very recently. In the 2000’s, the technology began receiving more attention as a way to, quite literally, change the way people see and experience the world around them. In the past few years, augmented reality has come to play a major role in the tech field, especially when it comes to mobile technology.

In entertainment, AR is beginning to play a big role. The technology is being put to use in a variety of mobile applications, many of which involve gaming. The game industry has taken a strong interest in AR because of its interactive nature. Companies like Sony and Microsoft are reportedly developing AR headsets that can transform a living room into an interactive gaming experience. Some small development studios are using the technology in their games to provide players with an experience they cannot find elsewhere.

Beyond the novelty aspects of AR, the technology is seeing some practical use as well. In the medical field, augmented reality is being used as a sort of high-tech assistant. Surgeons are using the technology to perform delicate procedures with extreme accuracy. AR is also being used for biological studies, allowing researchers to see and manipulate 3D images of cells. AR is also used in architecture, where computer-generated images of a structure can be superimposed over real life locations.

Augmented reality certainly has the potential to change the way people see the world, but its capabilities are often limited by existing hardware. Many mobile devices are simply not powerful enough to take full advantage of the features of AR. Larger computers can push the limits of AR, but tend to fall short as the use of AR becomes more complex. In the future, the limitations imposed on AR may be erased, and how the technology injects itself in daily life may be a marvel.