CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Augmented Reality (AR)

Augmented Reality is a technology that composites virtual objects into the real world. It has
gained popularity because of its wide application uses in various fields such as gaming,
entertainment, advertising and promotion and medical [1].
Mobile Augmented Reality (MAR): It is a new technology based on Augmented Reality and
can be used on mobile devices such as smartphones, iPad, iPod, gaming console and military
Head-Up Display (HUD). It extends and enhances the user experience of the mobile device [2].

Figure 1.1: Mobile application display AR

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Augmented Reality Introduction

1.2 Components of Augmented Reality

There are three main components in Augmented Reality system.

 Hardware
 Software
 Server

Figure 1.2: Components of AR

Hardware: hardware components in AR-based devices are a processor ,display , input devices
and sensors. The display is either a monitor , handheld device , eyeglass or head mounted
display(HMD).The input device is either camera of a smartphone or webcam connected to the
internet.

Software: Special 3D augmented reality programs like D’Fusion are used in AR-based
applications. virtual images for overlapping over the real live image can be generated using 3D
software’s like AutoCad3D,StudioMax or Cinema4D.

Remote Server : Cloud server plays an important role in storing the database of virtual images.
Based on the request received from AR application , virtual images are retrieved from cloud
server
Augmented Reality Introduction

1.3 Types of Augmented Reality

Several categories of Augmented Reality technologies exist, each with varying differences
in their objectives and applicational usecases. They are Marker based AR, Markless AR,
Projection based AR, Superimposition based AR etc.

1.3.1 Marker based AR

Figure 1.3: Marker based AR

• The Marker based AR approach is also called as Recognition based Augmented

reality.

• It depends upon device camera to distinguish a marker such as QR/2D code from
other real world objects .

• Once recognized, the marker on screen is replaced with a virtual 3D version of the
corresponding object.

• This is done to permit the user to observe the object in more detail and from the
various angles.
Augmented Reality Introduction

1.3.2 Location based AR

Figure 1.4: Location based AR

• When camera of smartphone having location based Augmented reality application is

pointed towards a real scene, inbuilt GPS software recognizes the location of device in
the world.
• Based on recorded location and orientation of the device recorded through inbuilt
sensors , like accelerometer and gyroscope of the device,
• the application offers data relevant to that specific location, towards which user is
looking for.
• This digital informative data is then superimposed to real scene, visible with device
camera.