Oh
boy! To further blur the line between cyber and meat
space, researchers are busily developing what is known
as "augmented reality."
What? Reality isn't real enough? We have to augment it
now? Oh well, I suppose change is inevitable, and unless
I win the lottery, my private low-tech island in the South
Pacific isn't going to happen, so read on.
The basic concept of augmented reality is to superimpose
graphics, audio and other computer-generated sense
enhancements over a real-world setting in real-time.
In other words, to have computer displays jumping out
from around every corner and billboard with the aid
of a pair of graphical display glasses, and real-time
hype coming at you from a digital audio receiver. A
more sophisticated level of this kind of "augmented
reality" was one of the futuristic concepts featured
in the 2002 movie Minority Report. Those of you who
saw the flick will remember whenever Tom Cruise walked
by a store-front or commercial concourse, his eyeballs
were scanned and he, as well as all other passers-by,
were assaulted with automated voices advertising specials
on items in their personal preference files. Just what
we all need - targeted advertising 24/7 wherever we
go. Nice.
Mercifully, eyeball scanning for what flavor soda or brand
of running shoes you prefer is a long way off. For
now, the enhanced reality slated to come our way within
the next decade will be experienced through a heads-up
display (eventually scaling-down to a pair of regular-sized
eyeglasses) and will show terminator-style graphical
information interfaces overlayed on top of the real
world we're walking through. This would enable you
to be walking by a building and see a display list
of the merchandise carried inside, complete with brand
logos, etc. And all of this would be displayed for
and viewed from an individual viewer's perspective.
Scary, huh? But hey...let's look at the bright side.
If techno-innovators can pull this off, maybe there
will eventually be other applications available as
well - such as augmenting your home reality. You could
live in the most austere one-room apartment that through "augmented
reality" appeared to be a palace right up until
the moment you took the glasses off to go to sleep.
And what about "augmented spousal-unit," hmmm?
Talk about your ultimate beer goggles! Woo hoo!
So maybe I'll wait a while before I move into the grass
hut and start weaving baskets to get away from technology
- this stuff might just be gettin' good.
