Evolving Realities

Augmented reality is rapidly evolving, yet it still needs to be available for many users. Smartphone AR today works best when focused on enhancing everyday experiences through subtle, helpful overlays rather than futuristic fantasies.

With recent advancements, new use cases that enhance our lives meaningfully emerge daily. Mobile phones led the way. AR filters on social platforms exploded in popularity, bringing new ways to express ourselves and connect over shared experiences. Beyond selfie lenses, developers unleashed AR's potential through hands-free apps. Location-based games blew up, transporting us to imaginary worlds hidden in plain sight. Instructional and DIY apps overlayed information directly onto the real world—shoppable apps made visualizing products in your space far easier than online photos alone.?

To achieve widespread adoption, the most immersive AR will be the kind that disappears into the background of our lives. Simple phone-driven effects that blend seamlessly into real-world scenes are ideal for the most significant near-term impact.

Augmented reality technology has come a long way from science fiction dream to reality all around us. For non-mobile use, headsets open new dimensions. Some integrate seamlessly into daily activities, while others fully immerse us for recreational enjoyment. Either way, they let digital and physical mix seamlessly.?

Through it all, one format stood out - markers. Marker-based AR can turn anything into a portal by recognizing simple trigger images. No precise tracking or processing power is needed for AR beyond a phone. It's the most accessible entry point to advanced interactions. Excitingly, marker tech has only scratched the surface.

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I am fortunate to work with a fantastic organization @goCMNH, the Clevland Museum of Natural History(CMNH). I promised to keep some information private until it is released, so I apologize for the teasing. For CMNH, we are building six augmented-reality dioramas from various epochs in time. These include visualizing the solar system's formation, early animals, and plants.?

*TEASE: Let's travel back to a fascinating period in Earth's history called the Ordovician Period. This time spanned from about 485 to 443 million years ago, and it was a time of incredible changes in the oceans and on land. Let's explore some of the cool things happening during the Ordovician Period! *TEASE*

We are pushing the limits of WebAR while trying to stay as broad a spectrum as possible with device accessibility. Working with an incredible team, I am looking at you, Donald Dunbar, and Terence Ziegler ; we worked out a Hoodni to WebAR flow and extended an AR harness for our image detection. Coming from movies and VFX, the constant limiter of our poly count?( In 3D modeling, polygons are flat, geometric shapes with straight edges and vertices connected to form a mesh.)?is always on our mind to ensure the dust and gas clouds form into a planet look like something more than Roblox and can still be performant on an older cell phone.?I am happy to share what we have learned and excited to share more about what is happening in 2024 as we are allowed. ?

As capabilities grow, the lines between virtual and reality blur. What new AR experiences excite you the most? How might it enhance your work or interests in the future?