What is augmented reality and how can it be used?
In recent years, terms such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and assisted reality have increasingly become part of our daily lives. These technologies ensure that the physical and digital worlds become more and more intertwined. In this blog, we answer the question: what exactly is augmented reality? We also discuss the various applications and available augmented reality glasses for those who want to experience AR for themselves.
What is augmented reality?
Augmented reality is a technology that applies a digital layer over the physical world to extend it with virtual objects, sounds, or information. Well-known film examples of AR can be seen in Minority Report and Iron Man, where characters see information projections in front of them that provide real-time data. With AR glasses or a device, you can experience such a digital layer over the real world.
Digital layers as a complement to reality
AR does not provide a fully virtual environment like virtual reality (VR) does, but adds digital elements to what you already see. So it's actually a mix of real and digital worlds, coming together to create a richer experience.


Difference between augmented reality and virtual reality
Although the terms augmented reality and virtual reality are often confused, they differ greatly from each other. With VR, the user is completely immersed in a computer-controlled environment that blocks the view of the real world. VR thus creates a secluded, virtual world in which you can walk around and interact with objects.
AR leaves the real world intact
With augmented reality, however, you remain connected to the real world. The AR technology adds digital elements, such as 3D objects or information, without the physical environment disappearing from sight. So through AR glasses, you can continue to see the world around you, complemented with a virtual layer that allows for additional context or interaction.
Application possibilities of augmented reality
Augmented reality offers a wide range of applications, from entertainment to industrial deployment. Here are some of the most common examples of how AR is used.
Gaming and entertainment
AR has made breakthroughs in gaming, with well-known examples like Pokémon GO, where players can catch Pokémon that appear in their real environment. Also, Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery offers an immersive AR experience, where players can cast spells and interact with characters from the magical world.


Education and training
In business and the educational sector, AR is increasingly being used for training and technical support. With AR glasses, for example, employees can receive instructions for performing quality checks or complex technical tasks. AR also adds value to medical education, as it makes it possible to project virtual anatomical models onto the real body, for example.
Informative apps and navigation
Various apps offer informative layers that add extra context to the physical world thanks to AR. For example, the Star Walk app helps users identify constellations by laying a virtual layer over the starry sky. Also, apps like Layar collect location data to display information about restaurants and attractions in the user's vicinity.
Creative applications such as AR colouring books
Disney has developed an AR colouring book where children can see their coloured characters transform into 3D avatars on a screen. This provides a fun and interactive experience that stimulates creativity.
Advances in augmented reality technology
Although AR is often seen as a futuristic technology, the concept has been in development for decades. One of the first examples of AR technology was the heads-up display in military aircraft, which in the 1990s already provided pilots with important information about speed, direction, and targets.
Development of AR by large companies
Since then, significant strides have been made by various companies and research institutes. In 2009, the MIT Media Lab introduced the SixthSense, an innovative device that used a camera, a projector, and a smartphone to project digital information onto objects. Later came Google with Google Glass, a headset that offered AR functionalities by projecting information onto the glasses. Although Google Glass is no longer on the market, other companies like Apple, Microsoft, and Huawei continue to develop AR.
The future of augmented reality
The development of augmented reality does not stand still. In addition to the ongoing innovations in AR glasses such as the Microsoft HoloLens 2, researchers are now also looking at the possibility of developing holograms that can be viewed by multiple people at the same time. Research is also being done on contact lenses with AR functionality and ultra-thin displays for even more subtle integration into our daily lives.
While research in the field of holography plays a major role in the development of futuristic displays and augmented reality devices, we are working today on many other applications, such as ultra-thin and lightweight optical devices for cameras and satellites.
Innovation and convenience as a future vision for AR
The aim of these developments is to make AR as user-friendly and natural as possible, so that the technology offers added value to our daily lives. As companies continue to build on AR, the technology will increasingly meet personal and professional needs.
Buy AR glasses at Unbound XR
Do you want to get started with augmented reality? At Unbound XR, you will find a selection of AR glasses such as the Microsoft HoloLens 2, the Magic Leap 2 and the Meta Quest 3 128GB. These headsets make it possible to experience the physical and digital world in a new way and are ideal for professional use in various industries.
Questions? Get in touch!
Do you have any questions about augmented reality or our collection of AR headsets? Feel free to contact us. We are ready to help you find the AR solution that suits you.