What is technology? Technology is the coordinated study of a set of knowledge and skills, which creates an artificial technological product or the development of an idea. It is considered a science, since it can solve technical problems or help people when they have a need. It can be applied in business, communications, human relations, education, agriculture, banking, to make purchases, as an environmental disaster prevention, in the means of transportation, architecture and engineering, medicine and health sciences, and finally, can store information.

It doesn’t have a specific date of when it started, which means we can’t say in what year it was created or invented. There are many theories that attempt to measure the progress of technology or attempt to make comparisons and measures of cultural, social, and scientific evolution. It has gone through various stages, such as the Paleolithic, Neolithic, Metal, Ancient, Middle, Modern and Contemporary ages. It has repeatedly influenced the great events of history. There’re several technologies studied today such as virtual and augmented.

Virtual and augmented technology are the two most recognized ones today. Said by CNET, augmented technology is when you look at the real world, but it is augmented with additional information or graphics on your computer. In other words, the things you are looking at occupy a relevant and real space on your screen, which you can interact with. Augmented technology can be used on your phone with apps coming or with special glasses, and it makes everyone grow up. Also, it can include unreal elements. Instead, virtual technology is when the world you are standing in becomes virtual and everything you see and hear is generated by a computer. The world it leads you to can be either naturalistic or fictional. The glasses used in this technology make you see everything three-dimensional, and the surroundings are seen in 360, which makes the space navigable. You can use your hands to move things in them. One must experience both technologies, and see which one they like and are most interested in to understand these terminologies.

In addition to what has been said, virtual o augmented reality are a type of technology that allows us to superimpose virtual elements on our vision of reality. Virtual reality is a computerized simulation of new spaces. It is not only for entertainment, it can also be used in medicine and education. Augmented reality shows a real place, and projects certain virtual elements onto it. Usually uses GPS and device camera, no additional accessories needed. One of the first applications that had more success with this technology was “Pokémon Go”.

According to Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, augmented reality encompasses more than virtual reality, because it gives us the possibility to be present, to communicate and, simultaneously, to enjoy other things visually. It will be the next revolution, as at the time the “Smartphone” was.

Applications and apps (iOS, Android, Mac, Windows)

  1. Measurement is the name of the Google application to measure, through this application you can make distance measurements using only the phone’s camera and sensors. It is a simple alternative with the possibility of measuring distance and height, as well as taking a photo of the result to verify it later. It can be downloaded by Google Play. 

2. Apple has its own application, it is called Measurement. It performs the same function as that of Google. It allows you to use the cell phone camera to draw virtual lines, and that way you know how much they measure exactly on the screen.

3. Google Maps allows you to visualize the destination as if you were there; It is known as a “street view”. Now they have added the walking routes using augmented reality, showing arrows and directions superimposed on the camera image, clearly indicating where to walk and turn.

4. Google Translate: For years Google maintained real-time translation functionality. It detects many languages ??and translates it to the one of your preference. Currently, they added language detection through the camera.

5. Just a Line is a multi-platform to make drawings in augmented reality. In it you can make doodles using a single line. Also, it allows you to collaborate with another person in the doodle or drawing that you made.

6. Ikea Place is the application that allows you to virtually visualize how the furniture you are about to buy for your home would look. With this app you can place sofas, chairs, side tables, and other items directly in your home, with detailed and full-scale models. However, it is only using Ikea products.

7. Star Walk 2: Augmented reality is to interpret the world or get more information about it. For this reason, they created this application to learn more about what the stars are.

References

  • “Virtual Reality” – This book is based on the total immersion of the virtual world that we have within our reach. This is no longer a science fiction trend, it is a great innovative trend, and it’s not just about video games.
  • “Fundamentals of Augmented Reality and its application to Marketing” – This format helps enrich what may be our perception of reality. Cinema has worked on many films to show this great trend. Marketing and advertising have been able to handle and take advantage of this opportunity with pleasure.
  • “Virtual World Computing” – With this text you get closer to everything that is the world of virtual reality in computing. The connection of these and the development they implement with current issues.

Blogs or web-pages

  • Virtual, Mixed and Augmented Reality– This is the world of virtual reality that keeps you up to date with the best information. You find the new in mobile phones, apps, games, google, smart operating systems, and more.
  • Real or Virtual– This page is most highlighted by virtual and augmented reality in what are video games and other programs of interest.
  • E-Learning Masters – Augmented reality in virtual education is more interesting than we think. Here, you get information about new experiences and ways of learning for students. It is not a substitute for physical reality, it is placing it in view of the real world.

6 experts in the field of technology, and virtual and augmented reality

a) Nonny de la Peña

  • American journalist, documentary filmmaker and entrepreneur.
  • Founder and CEO of Emblematic Group, a digital media company focused on immersive, mixed and augmented virtual reality.
  • Known as the “godmother of virtual reality”
  • Company webpage: https://emblematicgroup.com/
  • Twitter: @ImmersiveJourno

b) Liv Erickson

  • Open source virtual reality developer and advocate for creating inclusive social virtual reality spaces
  • He currently works as a senior product manager in the VR social media team at Mozilla
    Technology Member at the Aspen Institute
  • Personal webpage: https://livierickson.com/
  • Twitter: @misslivirose

c) Jesse Joudry

  • Founder of Jespionage Entertainment, BCv’s leading consumer virtual reality developer
  • Executive Director at VRChat
  • Company webpage: https://www.vrchat.com/
  • Twitter: @JesseJoudrey

d) Philip Rosedale

  • American entrepreneur who founded Linden Lab, which develops and houses the virtual world Second Life
  • High Fidelity Co-Founder, provides a virtual reality platform for users to create, implement, visit and interact with virtual worlds alongside other users
  • Second Life webpage: https://secondlife.com/
  • Twitter: @philiprosedale

e) Laura Raya

f) Williams Swartout

  • Director of Technology, Institute of Creative Technologies of the USC
  • Research Professor of Informatics, USC Viterbi School of Engineering
  • Expert in artificial intelligence systems, including immersive virtual reality, intelligent agents and natural language generation.
  • Profile webpage: https://ict.usc.edu/profile/william-swartout/