Compared to most buzzwords ‘Augmented Reality’ (AR) hardly rolls off the tongue, unlike its cousin ‘Virtual Reality’. However the potential uses of AR could in fact be far greater. So what is ‘Augmented Reality’?

By Tim Woolford

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Unlike ‘Virtual Reality’ which seeks to immerse the user in a computer-generated virtual world, ‘Augmented Reality’ adds location relevant information in the form of text, graphics and sounds to the physical world, thereby ‘augmenting’ the actual real environment the user is in.

AR systems range from complex experimental headset devices through to mass-market satellite navigation. What both systems have in common is that they have to accurately identify where the user is and the direction they are facing or travelling in and then provide information relevant both to the location and the requirements of the user.

Sat Nav – second generation AR

Satellite navigation is probably the most mainstream application of AR.SatNav can be thought of as ‘second generation’ AR (a paper map being first generation!), as it pinpoints the a vehicle’s position and ‘augments’ reality by providing location relevant information in the form of maps, directions, and additional information such as points of interest (PoI).

Satellite Navigation Systems first appeared in luxury vehicles, but with the advent of cheap GPS technology, which provides reasonable accuracy (sub 50m typically) the SatNav market has grown rapidly with combined PDA/GPS devices priced from €300. IDC estimate that over 50% of PDA’s are being used with a GPS and IEK estimates that worldwide GPS device market will be worth $21.5B in 2008.

iPod in cars points the way...

One of the big issues with systems built into vehicles is how to update map and Points of Interest information as well as upgrade components over the vehicles life. This is further compounded by the fact that vehicle manufacturers typically work to a 4 to 6 year product life cycle, whereas the electronics industry is fast approaching under 12 months for PDA/SatNav systems. Some motor manufacturers are now considering if they will continue to provide complex GPS (and entertainment) systems and instead provide the software and hardware ‘hooks’, so that the owner can chose which devices to install, and then buy them directly from other manufacturers. An early example of this is BMW’s partnership with Apple to integrate the Ipod with BMW’s existing incar entertainment systems.

Microsoft recently announced their T-Box device, which is a small computer running Windows Mobile for Automotive (similar to Windows CE) with built-in GPS, bluetooth, and USB slot. The T-Box integrates SatNav, hands free calls, (via bluetooth) and music linking to the vehicle’s entertainment system, with the driver’s mobile phone being used for data transfer and hands-free voice calls. The inbuilt GPS will allow location information to be transmitted to other applications using the mobile data connection. Microsoft also announced a deal with Fiat to install the T-Box in Fiat’s new models later this year.

Personal AR goes mobile

The latest generation of PDA’s and Smartphone devices (such as the O2’s XDAII, and HP’s recently launched 6510) provide an ideal platform for personal AR applications as they are truly portable and can be easily moved between home/office and car as well as easily connecting to PC’s and the Internet via WiFi and GPRS/3G.

Differential correction of the GPS signal using the European EGNOS system (which goes live later this year) will improve GPS accuracy down to 2-3m subject to the GPS receiver being able to pick up the EGNOS differential correction signal. This means that location information can be made much more specific and relevant.

The great advantage with these devices is that a combination of ‘onboard’ (stored locally) and ‘offboard’ (downloaded on request) information can be used, so for example maps can be downloaded to the PDA via a PC connection and then WiFi or 3G used to download up to date location relevant information as required.

Mobile networks lag behind AR device growth

Some mobile operators now provide location information using either Cell ID or more advanced triangulation thereby removing the need for a GPS. Such services are operator specific and may not be consistent from country to country. Whereas GPS is pretty much available world-wide (although not necessarily with differential correction).

On the one hand we have the increasing popularity of ‘location enabled PDA’s yet relatively little activity from the mobile operators, with most operators being somewhat sceptical about Location Based Services beyond specific vertical industry applications such as vehicle tracking. This may also be indicative of the problems with finding suitable charging/revenue models both for the Mobile Operator and the end user (i.e. what the Operator wants to charge versus what the user is prepared to pay).

Location-enabled devices surge

With UMTS (3G) and WiFi networks being rolled out, GPS prices falling (and accuracy improving), and both PDA and Smartphone devices offering increased functionality, we could soon be using true Augmented Reality solutions that move from today’s 2G AR (basic SatNav) to 3G systems which integrate a range of information sources and reformat and deliver them to a mobile ‘location enabled’ device.

In my next article for NMK I’ll be looking at some of the latest developments in AR and considering the impact of Augmented Reality on information and mobile network providers as well as discussing possible revenue models.

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About the Author:
Tim Woolford is Managing Director of TreK Wireless Ltd. TreK Wireless provides geo-referenced digital photography for utilisation in location based applications using a patent pending vehicle based image capture system. The first commercial deployment is currently underway with a project to photograph central London’s streets over the summer.

Further Links:
IDC - analyzing & predicting technology trends
IEK (Industrial Economics & Knowledge Center)
Art & Retail - Benneton's AR experiment