Introduction to Augmented Reality
Augmented reality, as tech giants like Apple boss Tim Cook keep saying, is the following big thing in consumer technology. Just as virtual reality (VR) seems like it’s really fizzling out, augmented reality (AR) will take the world by storm, we’re told — and if Pokémon Go was anything to go by, you would be brave to bet against Cook and his pals.
Current State of Augmented Reality
But while Apple and other have their eyes, quite literally, on smart glasses which beam AR content into our eyes (like Google Glass, but successful), there are a great deal of AR apps available immediately. We covered seven of our favourite iPhone AR apps earlier within the yr, and now it is time for Android to step into the highlight.
Star Walk 2
As the name suggests, augmented reality takes what you possibly can already see and supplements it with more information. This means laying graphics over what may be seen by your device’s camera, and maybe the best yet most fascinating example is certainly one of the various stargazing apps. We have chosen Star Walk 2, but others like Sky View are equally good at showing you across the solar system. Just point your phone skywards and the app will show you every thing in real time, with every star, planet and constellation labelled and annotated.
Flightradar24
Similarly, there are numerous plane spotted apps which use AR to inform you more about every aircraft flying overhead. Both Plane Finder and Flightradar24 are already powerful apps in their very own right, but add AR into the combo and it’s even easier to discover and track each airliner above you.
Google Translate
If you were using certainly one of those plane tracking apps on the airport, then in a number of hours you will likely need Google Translate. Although quite simple to make use of, that is certainly one of those applications which impresses each time it’s used. Open the app, point your smartphone’s camera at a foreign sign or restaurant menu, and the writing can be translated into your language in real time.
Ghost Snap
This game shows how AR may be as scary because it is helpful. Ghost Snap takes the feed out of your rear camera and offers it a spooky Blair Witch vibe, such as you’re watching through a grainy security camera which could go black at any moment. The app, which inspires you to walk across the room to explore the AR environment, works best for those who turn the lights out and use your phone’s flash as a torch, then put some headphones on to experience the app’s genuinely unnerving 360-degree sound.
Ikea Catalogue
Just like Ikea Place on the iPhone, Ikea Catalogue for Android permits you to place virtual furniture in your real room using augmented reality. You can browse by room then drop multiple 3D items into the environment. The app does an excellent job of spotting flat surfaces to put object on; it also casts accurate shadows and the size of objects feels about right as you walk towards them.
Anti Mosquito AR
A little bit of mindless fun, Anti Mosquito arms you with a gun and surrounds you with mosquitos. Spin around to identify them flying across the room you are in, then tap the screen to shoot and reload. The game is easy, but works well and is a neat demonstration of how AR can bring games into your real-world environment.
iOnRoad
A more complex AR application, iOnRoad is certainly one of several apps which turn your smartphone into a splash cam and collision warning system. Fix the phone to a windscreen mount in order that the rear camera can see the road ahead, start the app and go about your commute as normal. The app will warn you for those who get too near the vehicle in front or drift out of your lane, and in addition shows your speed and the local speed limit – which is gathered by reading road signs.
Conclusion
Augmented reality is an exciting and rapidly evolving field, with a big selection of applications and uses. From stargazing and plane tracking to translation and gaming, AR has the potential to revolutionize the best way we interact with the world around us. With the supply of AR apps on Android, it’s now easier than ever to experience the facility and potential of augmented reality. Whether you are searching for a fun and unique gaming experience or a practical tool to aid you navigate the world, there’s an AR app on the market for you.
