Advice For Entering Augmented Reality

The ARKit hype is real. The fruits of Apple’s labor (and their Metaio/Flyby acquisition) is finally makes it’s way around to the general public. Facebook’s got ARStudio, Google’s got Lens/WorldSense/Tango, and Microsoft's got HoloLens.

So how should you think about AR? Is it better than VR? What should you know before you dive in? I had the opportunity to share my thoughts with Autodesk on just this question.

AR to VR to AR — a little mixed reality test running into BB-8 exiting a Costco :D

First and foremost, realize that VR and AR drink from the same well. They’re two ends of the same spectrum of spatial computing. The tools and talent needed to develop for both are largely the same, but what changes is the context. If VR lets you immerse yourself deeply into the virtual realm, AR brings the virtual into the real world.

If VR lets you immerse yourself deeply into the virtual realm, AR brings the virtual into the real world.

However, each approach has its tradeoffs. Realize that good AR needs everything VR does and then some. You need perfect inside-out tracking, and dense compute capability in a mobile form factor, which is a tall order. That’s why Gartner puts AR *behind* VR on the Hype Cycle.

Hyped by ARKit demos? Recall that Oculus DK2 demos circa 2014 and 2015 were just the same. AR has yet to go through the trough of disillusionment.

I like to think of VR, AR, MR, XR (all the R’s) as a spectrum of technologies that share common DNA but are evolving at different rates.

I like to think of VR, AR, MR, XR (all the R’s really) as a spectrum of technologies that share common DNA but are evolving at different rates. As a consequence, we’ve got a slew of spatial mediums emerging each with their own strengths and weaknesses.

It’s about figuring out what unique affordances each medium gives you and then natively storytelling to the strengths of each medium and platform.

Think 360 video in-browser vs. HMD, mono vs. stereo 360 vs. stereo 180 vs. photogrammetric video vs. light field, game engine vs. pre-rendered vs. hybrid VR… It goes on and on, but know that whatever you choose to build — AR, VR, MR — it’s all spatial computing and the learnings you make in one subset will undoubtedly transfer to the other.”

A test where I’m using a 360 camera as a light probe for reflections and image based lighting to seamlessly integrate BB-8 into the environment. Who says VR & AR can’t get along? :)

Another example of VR and AR getting along splendidly. Using an Insta360 Nano to drive the environment reflections.

–Bilawal Sidhu, Creative Technologist, Imaginfinity

Read the full article

To read the full article, head over to Autodesk Area and check out their Journey to VR series: http://area.autodesk.com/blogs/journey-to-vr/unlocking-ar-advice-for-entering-augmented-reality

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