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Encyclopedia of Multimedia pp 29–31Cite as

Augmented Reality

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Definition:Augmented reality is a system that enhances the real world by superimposing computer-generated information on top of it.

Virtual Reality (VR) is the technology that provides almost real and/or believable experiences in a synthetic or virtual way. Augmented Reality (AR) can be thought of as a variation of VR. In the original publication [1]which coined the term, (Computer-) Augmented Reality was introduced as the opposite of VR: instead of driving the user into a purely-synthesized informational environment, the goal of AR is to augment the real world with synthetic information such as visualizations and audio. In other words, AR is a system that enhances the real world by superimposing computer-generated information on top of it. VR technologies completely immerse a user inside a synthetic environment. While immersed, the user can not see the real world around him/her. In contrast, AR allows the user to see the real world, but superimposes computer-generated information...

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Figure 7.

References

  1. P. Wellner, W. Mackay, and R. Gold, Eds. “Special issue on computer augmented environments: back to the real world,” Communications of the ACM, Vol. 36, Issue 7, July 1993.

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, USA

    Borko Furht (Editor-in-Chief) (Editor-in-Chief)

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© 2006 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc.

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(2006). Augmented Reality. In: Furht, B. (eds) Encyclopedia of Multimedia. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-30038-4_10

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