In a blog post last month, we looked into the various applications of Augmented Reality (AR) over the last few decades, moving far beyond the real of gaming to forward-looking environs. From pioneering preparatory autopsies in the field of medicine, to the use of tactical AR in active combat, we are still, after all, at the very beginning of such an exciting technology.

As with every beginning, a lot remains to be seen in terms of developing the tech, and its progress will rely as much on funding and expertise, as bold experimentation to discover more practical utility. Much like crypto and blockchain, without a pragmatic approach to how we as a people use AR, there can be little to see on the horizon in terms of sustainable progress for research and development.

Technology we can use

When Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg bought Oculus for $2 billion in 2014, it suddenly propelled Virtual Reality technology into the mainstream consciousness. Not that the public hadn’t known about it, but VR wearables weren’t exactly mainstream until after that happened. That helped the era of proliferation for VR gear… devices that until then were restricted to specialized sectors and geek fantasies.

Suddenly, it wasn’t uncommon anymore for people to be walking around with wearables, and almost every children’s theme park in developed countries now feature some form of VR goggles, so much so it’s become very normalized for the children born in this decade.

And then, when Pokemon Go took the world by storm in 2014 — a storm that has yet to dissipate in many places, really — it was Augmented Reality’s turn to be thrust into the spotlight. Extended digital realities no longer lived solely in a device, somehow, people understood now that it was possible to keep the existing physical reality, but enjoy it differently through augmented features. It might have been weird just five years ago to see people walking around in groups looking at their surroundings through their phones, but today, people use all kinds of AR features on social content on a daily basis.

Not sure what we’re talking about? You’ve probably played around with Snapchat and Facebook’s filters… in Pakistan, Facebook’s feline filter just last month unintentionally turned a political press fielding into something of a cat-ference livestream. That’s AR!

Technology we can afford

Part of the reason that AR has such a bright future is because it is increasingly put in the hands of everyday people. Just like in the examples above, consumer devices have not only become more common, but they’ve become cheaper (and in some cases, like filters, practically free to use).

In practical terms for technology, mainstream adoption usually is brought about by the successful lowering of entry barriers for the typical consumer. And that translates simply to cost. While the Microsoft HoloLens might still be out of reach for many with an eye-watering price tag of $3,500, there are already several solid options that trim off more than two-thirds of the cost!

1. Epson’s MOVERIO has been around for three years now and retails at $699 (but goes for as low as half that for older stock)

2. The Solos are great smartglasses for a solid $499 but is rather limited to cyclists and runners. So are the Everysight Raptors ($649)

3. The Vuzix AR3000 is one of the latest AR smartglasses to come in below $1,000 ($950 to be precise) but this is as close as it gets to using AR for reading text messages, seeing incoming calls, shopping social media, etc. without forking over too much money.

4. nReal’s AR smartglasses ($499) are probably the budget winners here though as they’re the full product with the lowest price tag.

World-Scale AR. Here and now.

But of course, you don’t have to go out and get those smartglasses if you want to experience AR a little more intimately than Snapchat filters.

We have been developing an AR app that is now free to download and try… allowing you to explore the world in a new dimension, and to live augmented reality experiences customized for you by others like you. What’s more, within the app are free rewards just waiting to be claimed for our new users.

Our vision for OVR is to one day help people build a Utopian world of interconnected users sharing persistent experiences, through an AR platform that solves the current issues of fragmentation of mobile app ecosystems, digital asset monetization difficulties, multitudes of vertical apps with siloed experiences. You can read all about our different features and how OVR can meet the very many needs of unique users, be they curious explorers, AR developers or businesses on our whitepaper.

You don’t need smartglasses, just your smartphone (ARCore/ARKit compatible) to come and join hundreds of others in the OVR Rewards Campaign for early adopters. For more details, read our announcement post on the OVR Rewards launch.

About OVR

OVR is a cutting edge AR platform powered by the Ethereum Blockchain. OVR makes it possible for users provided with a mobile device or a smart glass to live interactive augmented reality experiences customized in the real world. OVR can be defined as a new standard in augmented reality where geographical experiences are based on user’s position.

Website: https://www.ovr.ai/#intro

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