Is virtual reality going technology going to dominate the future?
Engineering Psychology
The field of Engineering Psychology is a new and rather unknown adventure many students, let alone people, have heard about. The possible pathways are endless in regards to where one might end up with an Engineering Psychology degree: medicine, car manufacturing, small technology startups, brain training, brain machine/computer interfaces, eye tracking, augmented and virtual reality and much, much more. Imagine a world where everything was designed perfectly the first time and the chance for human error was so minute that it was never a worry. Sadly, that’s not the case and with every new idea, new product, or new technology, there are hundreds of different models and templets that are tested and thrown out until only the best is left. This can be said for all areas of interests but especially in wearable and augmented reality technology. There is a constant uphill battle with what is considered helpful and what is considered to be intruding on personal information.
Aira
Aira is a small startup tech company based out of San Diego, California that I have had the opportunity to learn more about. In focusing on a small area of the population they have developed a software and smartphone app that pairs with video-equipped smart glasses that focuses on visual interpretation for those with low vision or the blind. “Using augmented reality, Aira connect people who are blind or low vision to a trained professional agent who is dedicated to further enhancing their everyday experience – completely hands-free assistance at the touch of a button” (Aira.io). This technology is on the cutting edge and there is not quite anything like it yet. As wearable technology focusing on assisting the blind with everyday tasks that might be taken for granted by those with sight, such as sorting mail, Aira has successfully developed a virtual reality technology unlike any others on the market. Focusing on a specific target consumer, the blind community, it does so without looking down upon them. This product is successful because they target a very specific group of users who all struggle with the same thing that this product is trying to solve. It is something that is new and eye-catching that could greatly improve everyday life for many. It is easy to use, easy to understand, and easy to see the success it will have. In short, Aira has developed a wearable, augmented reality technology that uses trained agents to help the blind with situational awareness.
Wearable, IR, and AR Technology
Wearable technology is commonly thought of as wrist bands (Fitbit, Apple watch, Garmin etc.) however has recently expanded to more modes. Smart glasses and shoes (Bell) are just a few but they all have one thing in common, they all sync with your smartphone to relay information about personal health, exercise and heart rate. The current Google glass technology, what is being used by Aira is cool, but there are so many more opportunities for improvement. When it was first released about five years ago, it was all the rage. Everyone was talking about it and everyone wanted it. There were endless possibilities for what this could mean for the future of Google and augmented reality technology. However, it quickly was forgotten and faded in importance in everyone’s eyes. Even though many look at this as a failure, it was not in fact. It brought attention to the field, to AR, and motivated people to do better! AR technology is just getting started and is projected to be unbelievably successful in the coming years. Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Sony, Apple, and Samsung, are just a few of the companies and brands that are jumping onto the bandwagon with visions of AR smart-glasses, mobile tech, and consoles (“After Mixed Year, Mobile AR to Drive $108 Billion VR/AR Market by 2021”).
Augmented reality technology is a combination of real and virtual which allows the user to be a part of reality with the plus side of additional information or effects. AR enhances one’s perception of reality through sight, hearing, and even touch. In terms of the impact Aira is making, its grip on augmented reality focuses on the agent’s utilization of sight and the users hearing to create a mental picture and full understanding of what lies ahead. From simple notifications to “life threatening surgical procedures” AR technology provides information that is valid and applicable to your current situation (The Ultimate Augmented Reality Technology Guide). Aira currently works with the Google glass to pair their software and app to successfully complete their company. Even though unintentional, this starts them at an uphill battle due to the negative thoughts many people have about the Google glass, including the reputation that only the rich have it and it does not benefit basic society in day to day life (Williams). However, through their target audience, Aira has been able to lose the privileged and extra stature and gain a label of usefulness and joy.
What now?
The future of Aira is one of great potential. Its already amazing platform and strong customer supporters will allow it to build to significant importance. There is a great amount of room to build their own hardware in replace of the Google glass and add more features of wearable tech in personal health, exercise and heart rate. Aira uses wearable technology and augmented reality and targets and area in Engineering Psychology, assistive technology, that often gets over looked because it is really easy to get caught up in the “new and shiny” things. While this is important and undoubtedly interesting, there is a lack of focus on accessibility for those products that are already on the market or lack of focus on technology focused solely on bettering differently abled peoples’ lives. However, Aira does just that, that examines and focuses on technology that benefits peoples’ everyday lives and Aira does just that.
References
“After Mixed Year, Mobile AR to Drive $108 Billion VR/AR Market by 2021.” NEWS DigiCapital After Mixed Year Mobile AR to Drive 108 Billion VRAR Market by 2021 Comments, Jan. 2017, www.digi-capital.com/news/2017/01/after-mixed-year-mobile-ar-to-drive-108-billion-vrar-market-by-2021/#.Wu-U_tPwa34.
Augmented Reality Demo. (2013, February 28). Retrieved March 21, 2018, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oH_LfXnklRw
Bell, L. (2017, December 07). Best Wearable Tech, Smartwatches, Activity Trackers And Fitness Gadgets. Retrieved March 23, 2018, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/leebelltech/2017/12/06/best-wearable-tech-health-fitness-gadgets-2017-updated/#1604d5ab5870
The Ultimate Augmented Reality Technology Guide. Retrieved March 21, 2018, from http://www.realitytechnologies.com/augmented-reality
Welcome to Aira. Retrieved March 20, 2018, from https://aira.io/
Williams, A. (2017, August 12). Google Glass is back, but for these people the AR wearable never went away. Retrieved March 21, 2018, from https://www.techradar.com/news/smart-spanners-and-smarter-surgery-putting-google-glass-to-good-use
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