Introduction to Augmented Reality
Augmented reality (AR) has been around for some time, with apps like Blippar leading the charge since 2011. Initially, Blippar focused on providing promoting and content for brands, allowing users to point their smartphone app at a daring "B" embossed on a magazine or a bottle of ketchup to get more information. However, AR is now entering a brand new phase, with contextual information becoming smarter and folks becoming more aware of its capabilities.
Evolution of Blippar
Blippar has recently launched a new edition of its smartphone app that may recognize any object you point at it, whether it has been "tagged" with an AR code or not. This new edition uses image recognition capabilities to investigate any environment in real time, over a 3G connection. According to Blippar co-founder and CEO Ambarish Mitra, it is a significant change of their business model, moving away from static image recognition to a more dynamic and real-time evaluation.
How it Works
Mitra demonstrated the brand new app on the Code/Media conference, pointing it at various random objects reminiscent of a magazine, a salad, and an apple. The app uses machine learning to make accurate predictions from large sets of information, allowing it to acknowledge and discover objects. While it is not perfect yet, with capabilities just like a six-year-old’s brain, it is predicted to enhance quickly to the extent of an 18-year-old’s recognition abilities.
Challenges and Limitations
One of the challenges of developing such an app is the complexity of image recognition. Ahead of the event, a staffer tried the app by pointing it at his dog, and it thought the pup was a goat. However, through the onstage demo, the app properly identified a pug named Milton as a dog. Mitra acknowledges that the technology has elementary capabilities, but with machine learning, it should improve rapidly.
Comparison to Other Apps
Blippar’s recent app is analogous to Google Goggles, which works by pointing the app at a QR code or a famous landmark. However, Blippar’s app takes it a step further by recognizing on a regular basis objects, not only recognizable landmarks or codes.
Conclusion
The new edition of Blippar’s app is a big step forward within the evolution of augmented reality. With its advanced image recognition capabilities and machine learning technology, it has the potential to revolutionize the way in which we interact with the environment. While it is not perfect yet, the app is predicted to enhance rapidly, making it an exciting development on the earth of AR. As Mitra said, the app’s recognition abilities should improve quickly, making it a robust tool for users to explore and interact with their surroundings in a more immersive and interactive way.
