Augmented Reality (AR) or mixed reality is the real-time, semantic view of the physical real-world environment merged with computer-generated imagery.
For some time now I have been pitching thoughts and ideas around the subject of AR. I’ve been trying to wrap my head around this topic to draw-up a thesis on how we as designers could use this technology to provide breakthroughs for our craft, and re-purpose the user experience for people.

AR has been around for sometime now. With origins dating all the way back to the 1950s, man has always longed to combine technology with the “real” world in hopes of discovering new and innovative ways to experience & enhance the realm of the living.

I especially like this example here by Layar. Layar’s mobile app allows the user to view the real world through a smart phone device, with added digital points of interests that pop up on the display screen to amalgamate data-points with the surrounding view.

Even though AR has been around since the 1950s, I still believe that this technology is still in it’s infant stages. Some promising benefits and features that this technology being used through active geographical search results are:

• Placing the user at the nucleus of contextual search so as to allow the user the feeling of ownership and control of their surroundings
• Allows the user to feel like they are being related to thus providing a more comfortable atmosphere and boosting confidence… especially in unknown cities and areas.
• Retrieving the most amount of information with the least amount of effort
• Digital data-points mixed with realistic surroundings are extremely contextual
• This technology encourages new behaviour and opens new avenues of usability that we as designers can take into consideration when designing user experiences.

This year 2010 will definitely be the breaking point of mobile interest. Many experts and futurist’ have predicted that this year will be the true starting point for mobile technology leading the charge as the main vanguard for usability, communications, the social web and daily application usage.

With the world focusing on mobile applications now more then ever, what new and interesting avenues do you think augmented reality will open up for the average laymen?