Pokemon Go made it that much easier to illustrate a use case for augmented reality.
Virtual reality is an artificial world of images and sounds created by a computer that is affected by the actions of a person who is experiencing it
Augmented reality is the integration of digital information with the user's environment in real time. Unlike virtual reality, which creates a totally artificial environment, augmented reality uses the existing environment and overlays new information on top of it.
Pokémon Go combines the use of AR technology with the GPS and camera functions of various smart devices. Pokémon Go prompts players to explore the real world in search of characters from the Pokémon franchise. After creating and designing an avatar, players view a main map that overlays real-world geographic details such as streets with in-game items and destinations, called PokéStops and Pokémon gyms. As the player moves in reality, the avatar moves on the AR map.When a player encounters a Pokémon, he has the option of viewing it in front of a digital background or superimposed over a real-world image in AR mode. In the latter case, the game utilizes the device’s camera to cause it to appear as if the virtual character exists in the natural world, making the player’s attempts at capturing the Pokémon seem all the more realistic.
Liza Avila
