Tag: augmented reality

Visual fatigue is a problem when switching from 2D to 3D.

One of the primary limitations of head mounted display (HMD) augmented reality technology is that human eyes have a difficult time adjusting between a 2D image on a screen and the 3D world that is in front of them, but researchers from the University of Connecticut in Storrs and the University of Arizona in Tucson, have developed a device that superimposes three dimensional images instead of two dimensional.

The researchers have developed an AR device similar to Google Glass.

The device, called an optical see-through head mounted display (OST-HMD) is compact, lightweight and a high-performance gadget that is not unlike Google Glass. It was developed by Hong Hua from the University of Arizona and Bahram Javidi of the University of Connecticut. It has been designed to superimpose a 3D image instead of the typical 2D image on the three dimensional view of real life.

The researchers developed a technology known as microscopic integral imaging display to create the 3D image. With this technique, a minute, high resolution screen generates views from diverse perspectives of the 3D image that the user wants to overlay. The various views come together to recreate a three dimensional scene that is sent through a freeform eyepiece (an optical lens with a unique shape) and into the eye. In essence, this augmented reality technology allows the user to view the virtual image as a 3D object in the real life scene in front of them. Eye focus is not affected, which results in a far more comfortable AR experience.

According to Hua, the OST-HMD has the potential to “redefine the way we perceive and interact with digital information.” For instance, in the future, it may provide a new training method for soldiers by integrating 3D virtual objects into real world environments or it might enable a surgeon to see CT (computed tomography) images spread over the surface of a patient’s abdomen during surgery.

It will still be some time before this augmented reality technology can be commercialized.

“Minimizing visual discomfort involved in wearing AR displays remains an unresolved challenge,” said Hua. She went on to say that “This work is making a significant step forward in addressing this important issue.”

Before the Augmented reality device will be ready for commercialization, plenty of work still needs to be done. However, Javidi commented that he believes commercialization is promising due to the improved commercial availability of optoelectronic and optical devices.

Wearable technology could come to define the future

Wearable technology may be seen as a sort of novelty today, but in the future, it could define the way people live their lives. Wearable devices are still quite new and this sort of technology is in a state of infancy. Most of these devices are simply used for entertainment or to keep track of basic health and fitness information. As wearable technology becomes more advanced, however, new devices can be used for a wide range of purposes, including enhancing eyesight and other physical properties.

Technology has become a fundamental part of life and society. People throughout the world have come to rely on simple mobile devices, like smartphones and tablets, which are used extensively in their daily life. These people are using their mobile devices to shop online, communicate with their loved ones, learn more about subjects that they find interesting, and entertainment. Wearable devices can fulfill the role of other mobile devices, but can do so more intuitively than traditional devices.

Augmented reality glasses are, perhaps, the most well know wearable devices. While these devices are not widely available yet, they are often the subject of attention when it comes to matters concerning wearable technology. AR glasses can be used to, quite literally, change the way people see the world around them. Augmented reality technology can either enhance a person’s natural vision or create digital experiences superimposed over the real world. High-tech glasses are serving as the basis for integrated technology, such as AR contact lenses and even technological implants.

So called smartwatches are somewhat simpler devices when compared to AR glasses, but these devices also hold great potential. Currently, smartwatches have limited capabilities. They are generally smaller than smartphones and have weaker processing power, but typically excel when used for a very specific purpose, such as tracking fitness information. As technology advances, these devices will likely become more capable. In the future, they could be used to quickly share contact information over a wide network of mobile-centric people. The devices could also be used as a sort of electronic key, allowing entry into homes and other buildings with high-tech security systems.

How wearable technology will influence the development of the future is impossible to say for certain. Current trends suggest that technology will continue to become a more prominent force in society than it already is. Wearable technology may be little more than a stepping stone toward a more integrated form of technology.