Ask HN: What happened to Augmented Reality? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: What happened to Augmented Reality?

6 pointsPeroni7 comments

Less than a year ago it appeared to me at least, that augmented reality was the next big thing and it was the future of mobile apps.

Over the last six months I've not seen anything particularly innovative or spectacular in terms of AR and despite immersing myself within the app scene, I don't know of a single individual or organisation creating anything of note where AR is an integral feature.

So HN, educate me. Am I missing something? Was AR a fad or are we yet to see its full potential?

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AR makes sense when it solves a problem. That problem, whatever it is, is not one that most people currently have.

Fundamentally, the gap between AR and the use to which people primarily put mobile devices is that AR doesn't address social communication between people in a way that adds value, e.g. it doesn't add to conversations with people I know, enhance my Facebook experience, or let me know what my family plans for dinner.

In a sense, AR content is a cul de sac in that in being location specific, there is some incoherence in notions which map it onto the web or other networks...e.g. virtual cannons make sense at the stone wall in Gettysburg and on the bluffs at Vicksburg, but linking them within a single AR experience makes no sense.

I don't think it's a fad -- except perhaps the current iterations of AR, but it will definitely see greater potential in the future. But, right now the interfaces that utilize AR are either too cumbersome, too clunky, or too expensive.

I do find some current AR apps, like Theodolite [1] on iOS immensely useful and I use it all the time hiking (I prefer the map & compass route over a GPS).

The pessimist in me thinks it'll mostly end up as a new way to display ads to people.

[1] http://hrtapps.com/theodolite/

Augmented Reality has always been difficult, expensive, and very limited, but on the bright side, some really great work is being done on it.

Start Here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wt-iVFxgFWk

You might also enjoy: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4423031

This one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gaqQdyfAz8&feature=relmf... is more on topic (QuakeCon panel with Michael Abrash of Valve).

Google glass seems to be the biggest augmented reality project at the moment.

Great point. Didn't even think of that.

Hype cycle. It wasn't entirely a fad, but it was hyped up far beyond what it's ready for with current technology.

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