Understanding Augmented Reality

Understanding Augmented Reality

by Alan B. Craig
Released April 2013
Publisher(s): Morgan Kaufmann
ISBN: 9780240824109

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Book description

Understanding Augmented Reality addresses the elements that are required to create augmented reality experiences. The technology that supports augmented reality will come and go, evolve and change. The underlying principles for creating exciting, useful augmented reality experiences are timeless.

Augmented reality designed from a purely technological perspective will lead to an AR experience that is novel and fun for one-time consumption - but is no more than a toy. Imagine a filmmaking book that discussed cameras and special effects software, but ignored cinematography and storytelling! In order to create compelling augmented reality experiences that stand the test of time and cause the participant in the AR experience to focus on the content of the experience - rather than the technology - one must consider how to maximally exploit the affordances of the medium.

Understanding Augmented Reality addresses core conceptual issues regarding the medium of augmented reality as well as the technology required to support compelling augmented reality. By addressing AR as a medium at the conceptual level in addition to the technological level, the reader will learn to conceive of AR applications that are not limited by today’s technology. At the same time, ample examples are provided that show what is possible with current technology.

  • Explore the different techniques, technologies and approaches used in developing AR applications
  • Learn from the author's deep experience in virtual reality and augmented reality applications to succeed right off the bat, and avoid many of the traps that catch new developers and users of augmented reality experiences
  • Some AR examples can be experienced from within the book using downloadable software

Table of contents

  1. Cover image
  2. Title page
  3. Table of Contents
  4. Copyright
  5. Dedication
  6. Foreword to Alan B. Craig’s Understanding Augmented Reality
  7. Preface
    1. About this Book
    2. How this Book Came to Be
    3. Intended Audience
    4. Relationship of this Book with Understanding Virtual Reality and Developing Virtual Reality Applications
    5. Special Features of this Book
    6. Supplemental Materials
  8. About the Author
  9. Acknowledgments
  10. Chapter 1. What Is Augmented Reality?
    1. Introduction
    2. Where Did Augmented Reality Come from?
    3. Augmented Reality
    4. The Relationship between Augmented Reality and Other Technologies
    5. Summary of Related Technologies
    6. Summary
  11. Chapter 2. Augmented Reality Concepts
    1. Introduction
    2. How Does Augmented Reality Work?
    3. Concepts Related to Augmented Reality
    4. Ingredients of an Augmented Reality Experience
    5. Summary
  12. Chapter 3. Augmented Reality Hardware
    1. Introduction
    2. Major Hardware Components for Augmented Reality Systems
    3. Summary
  13. Chapter 4. Augmented Reality Software
    1. Introduction
    2. Major Software Components for Augmented Reality Systems
    3. Software Used to Create Content for the Augmented Reality Application
    4. Summary
  14. Chapter 5. Content Is Key!— Augmented Reality Content
    1. Introduction
    2. What Is Content?
    3. Creating Visual Content
    4. Creating Audio Content
    5. Creating Content for Other Senses (Touch, Taste, Smell)
    6. Representation and Perceptual Issues
    7. Summary
  15. Chapter 6. Interaction in Augmented Reality
    1. Introduction
    2. What Is Interaction?
    3. Summary
  16. Chapter 7. Mobile Augmented Reality
    1. Introduction
    2. What is Mobile Augmented Reality?
    3. Advantages and Disadvantages of Mobile Augmented Reality
    4. Architectures for Mobile Augmented Reality Systems
    5. Summary
  17. Chapter 8. Augmented Reality Applications
    1. Introduction
    2. What Makes a Good Augmented Reality Application?
    3. Application Areas
    4. Collaborative Augmented Reality
    5. Applying Augmented Reality to a Problem
    6. Evaluating Augmented Reality Applications
    7. Example Augmented Reality Applications
    8. Summary
  18. Chapter 9. The Future of Augmented Reality
    1. Introduction
    2. The Current State of Augmented Reality
    3. Why Consider the Future?
    4. Trends in Augmented Reality
    5. Summary
  19. Index

Product information

  • Title: Understanding Augmented Reality
  • Author(s): Alan B. Craig
  • Release date: April 2013
  • Publisher(s): Morgan Kaufmann
  • ISBN: 9780240824109