{"id":18586,"date":"2023-10-06T08:14:00","date_gmt":"2023-10-06T08:14:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.resmed.com\/en-us\/?p=18586"},"modified":"2026-04-14T07:30:44","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T07:30:44","slug":"what-is-augmented-reality-ar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.resmed.com\/en-us\/sleep-health\/blog\/what-is-augmented-reality-ar\/","title":{"rendered":"What is augmented reality (AR)?"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

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Jordan Cullen<\/strong>
Head of Product Marketing<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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TL;DR<\/strong>: Augmented reality (AR) overlays digital content like 3D objects, text, directions, notifications, and images on top of real-world objects and is typically accessed via smart glasses, smartphones, tablets, wearables, and virtual reality (VR) headsets equipped with passthrough functionality.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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Augmented reality (AR) is a swiftly growing immersive technology. AR applications are accessed through a head mounted display (HMD), like smart glasses, some virtual reality (VR) headsets, mobile devices, wearables, and more. Once an application is launched, digital content is overlayed atop of objects in the real world. For example, a user may choose to have walking directions displayed. They\u2019ll be guided by directional arrows, displayed over the correct streets, and will find a pin at their destination. Or a parent may want to visualize how the toy they\u2019d like to purchase for their child would look once it\u2019s in their home.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The widespread adoption of AR is transforming both how we perceive and interact with the world around us. It\u2019s a paradigm shift that brings opportunities, from enhancing everyday experiences to revolutionizing entire industries.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

This blog covers augmented reality as a technology. We\u2019ve already discussed what AR is in a previous blog \u2014\u00a0What\u2019s the difference between virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality?<\/em><\/a>\u00a0Here, we\u2019ll go a bit deeper \u2014 a brief history, how it works, and common use cases across a variety of industries.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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A brief history of augmented reality<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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AR\u2019s inception can be traced back to 1968 with Ivan Sutherland\u2019s invention of the first-ever head-mounted display (HMD) system. The device was called\u00a0The Sword of Damocles,\u00a0<\/em>and when worn, users would see wire frames of shapes or rooms. As the user turned their head or moved around the object, their perspective of the object would change in relation.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Watch the video on YouTube ><\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

However, it wasn\u2019t until 1990 that Boeing researcher Tom Caudell coined the term \u2018augmented reality.\u2019 He envisioned a world where workers assembling Boeing 747 aircrafts could visualize how to install new parts using a secondary device.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

In 2008, the first commercial AR application appeared, used by MINI to transform a flat, two-dimensional magazine advertisement to an interactive 3D ad with the assistance of a computer and web cam.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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Photo by Technabob |\u00a0Technabob.com<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Fast forward to May 2014 and the launch of the Google Glass. Referred to simply as \u201cGlass,\u201d the HMD looked like a pair of glasses, but with a small screen, camera lens, and battery consuming the right half. Though the project was commercially unsuccessful, many of the features have been adapted for modern smart glasses.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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Photos by Google |\u00a0Google.com\/Glass<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Accessed via Archive.org<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Augmented reality as a concept has existed for decades. Dedicated AR products have only recently found their way into the hands of consumers at scale. As the hardware that powers AR devices gets smaller, faster, lighter, and less cost-prohibitive, we\u2019ll see the technology integrate with products we already use (like smartphones), spaces previously abandoned (like glasses, but\u00a0actually<\/em>\u00a0fashionable<\/em>), and into new areas that we can\u2019t yet fathom.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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How AR works<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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Experiencing augmented reality requires a device, plain and simple. As images are projected, their precise positioning and orientation is calculated to produce an accurate display. This process is made possible using a combination of cameras and depth sensors to capture images and spatial data to perceive the physical environment. For some applications, GPS and location services are used to provide context about location and\/or orientation.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The captured images undergo complex processing using advanced algorithms to be analyzed in real time. This process identifies objects, surfaces, and their positions in relation to the device with remarkable accuracy. This process is crucial for ensuring that the digital elements align perfectly with the physical world.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Finally, the content is displayed on the user\u2019s device.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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Photo by Scanblue |\u00a0Scanblue.com<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

But there isn\u2019t just a single\u00a0type<\/em>\u00a0of augmented reality\u2014there are (at least) five. To better understand how AR works, it is important to understand each of these categories.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n