Augmented reality is one of the many latest technological innovations to grab the attention of the digital world. This phenomenon allows digital information to enter and enhance the real world. In his article, Even Better Than the Real Thing, Paul Skeldon reflects on the use of augmented reality and the opportunities it provides for various companies throughout the world. According to the article, this fusion of the Internet and the real world has a vast array of commercial opportunities that have yet to be discovered. Skeldon remarks that it seems like augmented reality is advancing mostly in the mobile device world.
Mobile device applications are examples of augmented reality in action. For instance, the iPhone application Word Lens can be used to translate between languages. The phone simply has to be held over a page of words and they will be translated into a different language. According to Nick Bilton’s blog, “Augmented Reality on Your Phone”, augmented reality applications have been enjoyable, but impractical because technology is limited. It often provided the information slowly or incorrectly (Bilton). In order for augmented reality to really make a mark and emerge as a critical asset to companies, information needs to become more precise and faultless.
In our current technological era, new methods of receiving information in the most effective and efficient ways possible emerge almost every day. Technology is constantly changing and developing in any way that it possibly can. I think that it is possible for the interactions with our mobile devices and the real world to become a norm in society. Smartphones have already surfaced and become an essential gadget to not only business or technology leaders, but ordinary people as well. The further development of augmented reality will allow our mobile devices to have applications that combine the Internet and real world, so people can easily access virtually any kind of information. This can be lucrative for companies that choose to adapt this technology. It is certainly a useful asset to people.
I find all of these new technological advances to be extremely fascinating, especially innovations like augmented reality, where the virtual world combines with the real world. The capabilities are amazing and it is remarkable that a person can receive so much information in their hands whenever they want. An interesting example of augmented reality in Skeldon’s article was the input of screens in front of Selfridges in London that allowed customers to virtually try on watches. They did not need to go in the store, but simply tried them on via the screen to see if they liked the watch. It is incredible that people have the opportunity to fuse with the virtual world while they are present in the real world. This particular example also demonstrates the commercial abilities augmented reality makes available.
The augmented reality screens also made me think about its impact on people. It is interesting to think about it as an alternative. If people are virtually trying on watches outside of the store, what use do salespersons in the store have? The emergence of this kind of technology can undermine the importance of the salesperson workforce. Some people may not be inclined to seek the opinions of a salesperson because they do not feel the need to enter the store. Personally, I would still like to see what I am buying firsthand, but others have different opinions.
These screens also made me think about the overall ability of technology. It is obviously very important to this era, but we have not mastered it yet. Can we rely on technology the way that we rely on each other? I do not think that we are that comfortable with technology yet. I think that we are growing toward relying on technology more and more as it becomes more developed and advanced, but it has not been perfected. I am also a supporter of human interaction and communication. It seems that some of these augmented reality applications make it easy for people to disregard interacting with each other, and instead figure out things for themselves. I think it is important to communicate with other people and learn about their individual insights.
Augmented reality can definitely be a profitable innovation for many companies. With the rapid advancement of technology in this era, information will only become more accurate and available to us.
Bilton, Nick. "Augmented Reality on Your Phone - NYTimes.com." Technology - Bits Blog –
NYTimes.com. 20 Dec. 2010. Web. 21 Feb. 2011.
Bonsor, Kevin. "How Augmented Reality Works" 19 February 2001. HowStuffWorks.com.
Skeldon, Paul. "The Potential of 'Augmented Reality' - WSJ.com." Business News & Financial
News - The Wall Street Journal - Wsj.com. 15 Feb. 2011. Web. 20 Feb. 2011.
?mod=WSJ_Tech_Above_Video#articleTabs%3Darticle>.
A key component of information systems is making sure that the information is correct and usable. I think that people, like businesses, highly value information that they can get quickly and easily. Augmented reality sounds like something that could revolutionize the retail industry because it can provide the shopping experience without the customer even being in the store. In the future customers could even potentially try things on virtually from their homes. Businesses are already moving away from the brick-and-mortar companies because of their high fixed costs and towards online and virtual marketing and selling. I agree with Erin that the interaction between technology and real life will become normal and standard with the improvement of technology. These technologies are so valuable because they give consumer's more time and more information.
ReplyDeleteAugmented reality is doing everything it can to alter the way users view the world. While it combines the use of insanely skilled computer graphics, as well as sound, a whole new form of virtual reality is created. The article “How Augmented Reality Works” on howstuffworks.com shows a Sixth Sense augmented reality system that allows you to “project a phone pad onto your hand and phone a friend without removing the phone from your pocket.” While these extreme uses of new technologies do make our lives convenient, they also seem to encourage us to be a little more lazy than we should be. I also agree with Erin when she says she’s a supporter of human interaction and communication. The fact that people can try on clothes or watches without actually being in the store is, again yes convenient, but could as Erin said undermine or perhaps replace the need for a fully functioning sales force. An example of technology replacing human thought can be seen in a translation website such as spanishdict.com. Where the computer will literally translate word for word what something says, it can’t tell you what it actually means or how it really should be translated. That is left up to a human mind, and as Erin pointed out “It often provides the information slowly or incorrectly.” I think we must be careful not to replace everything that’s out there with the use of technology because soon we’ll all lose sight and purpose, and then what’s this all about?
ReplyDelete