Augmented reality (
AR) is a live direct or indirect view of a physical, real-world environment whose elements are
augmented (or supplemented) by computer-generated sensory input such as sound, video, graphics or
GPS data. It is related to a more general concept called
mediated reality, in which a view of reality is modified (possibly even diminished rather than augmented) by a computer. As a result, the technology functions by enhancing one’s current perception of reality. By contrast,
virtual reality replaces the real world with a simulated one. Augmentation is conventionally in
real-time and in semantic context with environmental elements, such as sports scores on TV during a match. With the help of advanced AR technology (e.g. adding
computer vision and
object recognition) the information about the surrounding real world of the user becomes
interactive and digitally manipulable. Information about the environment and its objects is overlaid on the real world. This information can be virtual or real, e.g. seeing other real sensed or measured information such as electromagnetic radio waves overlaid in exact alignment with where they actually are in space.