How It Works: Augmented Reality (AR)

Still remember the movie Robo Cop? From behind his glasses his helmet, Robo Cop scan the enemy. A moment later, information about the enemy was on his glasses. Once these technologies may still enter the realm of science fiction. But not anymore, Augmented Reality has brought sophistication to the real world today.

During this time, the real world and the world firtual walked alone. Virtual technology, especially computer graphics has achieved remarkable progress. MSU scientists and engineers trying to pull out of the computer graphics screen, and mengintregasikan in the real world.

This technology, known as Augmented Reality (AR), blurs the boundary between the real world with virtual worlds. AR add a computer creation (computer-generated) on what we see, hear, smell, and feel.

In susceptible between the virtual and the real world, AR is closer to the real world. AR add pictures, sound, touch feedback (haptic feedback), and the smell in the real world. Every person, from tourists, soldiers, until the doctor can utilize this technology.

AR changed the way we look at the world, or at least the user's perspective. Imagine yourself walking or driving on the highway. With the AR, which may look like ordinary glasses, graphic information will appear in your view. Yes, like Robo Cop.

Similarly, audio information that will explain everything you see. This information will always change with the movement of your head. No need to wait a long time, such technology is already embedded on the smartphone made by Apple Inc.

AR COMPONENTS
The basic idea of AR is actually very simple, namely to place the information graphics, sound and other sensory devices in the real world. Some research AR underway at many universities around the world. One of the most interesting is SixthSense, AR system developed at MIT.

SixthSense worked with four major components which are also widely used in the AR system, namely a camera, a small projector, smartphone, and mirrors. The four components are strung together and worn around the neck, looped like us at the time of the flash or whistle.

Users using colored plaster on four fingers. This plaster is used to manipulate images emitted by the projector. Projectors emit smartphone button image on the user's palm. That has been coated fingertips colored plaster pressing those buttons.

Mirror capture finger movements with colored plaster, and sent to the smartphone. Picture this button can be transmitted anywhere, in the palms of the hands of users, wall, or even a drinking glass. In addition to colored plaster, painted nails can also be used as a manipulator.

AR at SMARTPHONE
Maybe we still have to wait until SixthSense really matured and marketed. But the simpler AR technology is that we can enjoy today. Robo Cop technology already exists on the iPhone and smartphone-based advanced android.

In the Netherlands, smartphone users can download an application called Layar (www.layar.com) who use a phone camera, and GPS to collect information about interesting places, and put it on the photo location. You can also direct the smartphone in a building, and the screen will display information about the company that has offices in the building, or perhaps building a series of photos from flickr, and its history from Wikipedia.

In addition to Layar, some iPhone users ever surprised to find "easter-egg" in the application of AR Yelp. This application is known as reviews from users around the restaurants and other businesses. AR component is hidden in it called Monocle.

By shaking the iPhone 3GS three times when the application is active Yelp, Monocle will appear. Using GPS and a compass feature, Monocle will display information about local restaurants, including ratings and reviews on the smartphone screen.

MILITARY AND Medicine
Other areas are helped by the presence of AR is the military and medicine. Information appearing on the windscreen glass cockpit or flight helmet is an example of the use of AR technology in the military. USA troops have now been equipped with special glasses made Arcane Technologies (www.arcane-technologies.com), with the same function as eyeglasses Robo Cop.

In medicine, doctors of AR used to display information on CT scan (Computer Tomography Scan) and MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), which gives a picture of internal anatomy of the patient, when the surgery took place.