Type of Augmented Reality

Augmented Reality (AR) is the overlay of digital content onto the user's environment in real time. Its ability to change the way you interact with the world can impact every aspect of your life. No wonder AR technologies have been widely used in business, retail, and other industries. Read on to figure out what type of Augmented Reality your project needs.

What Is AR Technology?

AR technology is overlaying digital content onto real-world settings. Unlike VR (Virtual Reality), it doesn’t create a whole new world, but rather enriches reality with digital elements. AR relies on cameras, light sensors, depth sensors, and microphones on smartphones, tablets, and headsets to get an enhanced version of the real world. Apple Vision Pro, Pokémon GO, and Snapchat are the most common AR technology examples. AR is constantly expanding the variety of applications across ecommerce, education, healthcare, design, fashion, etc.

Main Types of Augmented Reality

Depending on your project, a specific type of augmented reality may best suit your goals. Look through the main types of AR, including their core features and use cases.

Marker-Based AR

Marker-based AR relies on a visual marker, also called a fiducial marker, in order to activate the interactive experience. You need to scan the image with the device’s camera to unlock special effects. You can also move your smartphone around the static marker to check the virtual image in 3D on your screen. Unfortunately, marker-based AR can only be used with mobile devices. In some cases, the app download may be required for further use. IKEA Place is a mobile app that helps users visualize how furniture would look in their homes before they make a purchase.

Markerless AR

Markerless AR doesn’t rely on physical markers. Instead, it uses location-based data like GPS in mobile devices to track the user’s settings and detect the location of the virtual content. AR software helps understand the spatial relationships and orientation of virtual objects in the user’s view. With this type of AR, you open the mobile app or website and scan your physical setting with your device to make the digital element appear on the floor or a wall. Markerless AR may be complex and quite expensive to set up.

Projection-Based AR

Projection-based AR uses a fixed projector in a physical setting to overlay 3D elements onto the physical space. It doesn’t develop fully immersive environments, but rather holograms. Projection-based AR works well for in-person events like store openings or pop-up shops, where you might release holograms. For example, TeamLab Borderless, or "a museum without a map," makes digital projections change entire rooms into dynamic environments.

Superimposition-Based AR

Superimposition-based AR replaces a physical element with a digital view fully or partially. Object recognition is critical here because an app can’t replace an original object with an augmented one if it can’t spot the original object. This type of AR can give you direction and guidance, especially in physical stores. Potential buyers can easily find the products they are looking for. Superimposition-based AR is widely used in education and healthcare to deliver the necessary guidance.

SLAM-Based AR

SLAM-based AR is used in vision technologies to collect the visual data (points and dots) from the physical settings to integrate the data into machines. It requires real-time detection of the user’s settings, which might change in each execution. The algorithm can quickly adapt to any scenario in terms of shape, size, color, texture, etc. ARKit (Apple) and ARCore (Google) use SLAM to see the room’s shape and size, detect floors and walls, and then bring digital content into that space, keeping the accurate view when moving.

Also read: Best Examples of Augmented Reality (AR) in Real Life, Retail, and Business

Types of AR Glasses

AR wearables feature virtual and real elements, projecting virtual imagery onto their real-world surroundings to enhance the user’s vision. Here are the main types of Augmented Reality glasses:

• Optical see-through glasses use transparent lenses with a graphical overlay, allowing users to view the physical world and digital content simultaneously.
• Video see-through glasses use graphic imagery and two cameras on the display to bring both the real world and computer-generated images to an internal screen.
• Waveguide-based glasses enable the smooth overlay of digital content onto the real world while guiding light from a miniature projector to your face.

Examples of AR Technology Use

Different types of Augmented Reality serve specific purposes across industries. The most common practical applications can be found in ecommerce, since consumers get a chance to check the product from various angles before making a purchase. AR also creates 3D models for healthcare and education. AR virtual tours allow buyers to explore property remotely. Immersive AR games have also taken entertainment to a totally new level, ensuring more authentic experiences.

Conclusion

The existing types of Augmented Reality technology keep finding new practical applications. Marker-based, markerless, projection-based, and superimposition AR glasses provide immersive and personalized experiences. They transform how people learn, shop, work, and interact with content. As technology progresses, AR’s future promises even more extensive use across industries.