Augmented Reality

Our lesson this week gave us the opportunity to discuss about the possible future technology that could be developed. What the current technology and knowledge readily available to many in society, this stimulates creativity amongst individuals, in search of ways to better improve our life. 
What interest me the most during the lesson was the topic on augmented reality. It is the live view of some physical item or environment that are augmented by computer generated sensory inputs. If we are able to develop such technology, it will bring about greater convenience and entertainment. 
However, sparked me to think further was the question on will such technology, if available in future, will be so well integrated into our life such that we can differentiate between actual reality and augmented reality.
In my opinion, this possibility is not remote. Consider the cases of computer game addicts, they are so immerse into their virtual reality that some neglect food, studies and socializing with friends in the actual world. This could be due the the increasing quality such entertainment can provide its gamers, allowing them to feel as though there are inside the game. Virtual reality is the pioneer to augmented reality. 
In more severe cases where by computer addicts played violent games for too long a duration, they subconsciously became too involved in their game that they were unable to identify the actual reality. There are several examples whereby those gamers mistaking thought they are still in their gaming world and committed acts of violent on their loved ones or friends. With video games getting more realistic, such cases could be worsen.
Therefore, if virtual reality already has to ability to influence some to mistake reality, it is undoubtedly that augmented reality, something which will connect more with reality will be able to avoid such effects. Hence, if augmented reality technology becomes readily available, in my opinion, we might someday be too reliant on it that it becomes part of reality. 


This an interesting link on Nokia's vision of augment reality. Many high-tech companies in the communication, gaming and imaging industry have been on a continuous search to develop such technology. 
Nokia's Vison on Augmented Reality