Reality, but better
All photos courtesy of DreamCraft Attractions
AR and VR are making more memorable attractions by Sarah Brack, CAVU Designwerks AR, the game changer
Augmented Reality 101
Boomers, zoomers, millennials, and everyone else are on the cusp of joining Generation AR (augmented reality): using powerful technology and real-time systems to add layers of information over the real world. So what is AR, and how will it change our lives?
There are two approaches to augmented reality: passthrough and reflection. AR headsets, like the Microsoft HoloLens or the Nreal AR glasses, use reflection to generate an AR experience. Images are projected onto a surface (glass or a similar material) in front of the user’s eyes. The DreamCraft Attractions team has substantial experience with this format, having been part of the development team for HoloLens, and more recently, in a soon-tobe-seen, technologically impressive theme park attraction.
In 2016, the world discovered the first mass-market augmented reality app. People — young and old —were hunting in neighborhoods, parks, and city sidewalks, staring intensely at their phones to catch elusive creatures by swiping virtual balls at them. These creatures exist only in the phones, but for anyone looking at their screen, they seemed to be right there in the real world. Pokémon GO was a smash hit that made AR mainstream. Like many technologies, AR has evolved a great deal since its roots in the military decades ago. It has evolved from rudimentary heads-up displays for flight crews to a robust entertainment experience connecting millions of people around the world.
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Passthrough AR applies virtual images to a video feed; Pokémon GO is one adaptation of this technology. Using their smartphone cameras, users can view their environment with an AR overlay to display interactive characters. Some Virtual Reality (VR) headsets, such as models from Varjo Technologies, use this technology. It’s a powerful way to immerse the viewer through a blend of virtual, augmented, and real-life elements. Technical aspects of VR and AR will continue to improve, deepening the engagement in an AR experience. Currently, tethered headsets offer power and connection to a high-end
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