The Economist explores augmented reality (AR)
In the December 6th issue, The Economist published an article titled Reality, only better that explores the futuristic world of "augmented reality" (AR). AR is, in a sense, the opposite of virtual reality (VR). Whereas virtual reality requires an individual to view a computer generated landscape using a screen such as a monitor or special glasses, augmented reality involves superimposing digital imagery onto objects in the real world. As the article states, "For some things, it turns out, computer graphics can be much more effective when viewed not on screens, but superimposed on the real world."
The article details several examples of this is being applied today including locating veins for surgery. Though the article does not mention the relationship between holographic technologies and AR, these two seem to go hand in hand.
Not surprisingly, there is a Wikipedia article on augmented reality. For other interesting futuristic use cases, see the "future applications". One such application that stood is the following:
Virtual gadgetry becomes possible. Any physical device currently produced to assist in data-oriented tasks (such as the clock, radio, PC, arrival/departure board at an airport, stock ticker, PDA, PMP, informational posters/fliers/billboards, in-car navigation systems, etc. could be replaced by virtual devices that cost nothing to produce aside from the cost of writing the software. Examples might be a virtual wall clock, a to-do list for the day docked by your bed for you to look at first thing in the morning, etc.
While still certainly decades away, it seems likely that some future incarnation of an iPod like device might be nothing more than a virtual gadget powered by AR technology.
