Nebraska Library Commission

What is Augmented Reality?

Using augmented reality, we can now overlay digital media, like images or sounds, over the real world. This digital media is only visible on a device like a smartphone, smart glasses, or headset.

Check out this video to see AR through Microsoft Hololens 2:

You can experience a more cost-effective method of AR by checking out the Merge Cube through the Nebraska Library Commission. AR is getting more popular and this Cube will get started with the basics so you can work your way to more advanced tools like the Hololens 2. Check out the Additional Resources below to learn more, then move on to other sections in this overview.

Additional Resources

• What is Augmented Reality? (The Franklin Institute)
• Augmented Reality- The Past, the Present, and the Future (Interaction Design Foundation)
• (YouTube) How Augmented Reality Works (Ryan Kopinsky)

Request Kit Real-World Use Cases ⇒

Real-World Solutions

Augmented Reality (AR) has reached construction, education, retail, architecture, entertainment, and just about every industry you can imagine. Using AR your device can act as a digital ruler to measure walls and angles, or you can visualize how a house would look before it is built.

Check out these use cases to see AR in action in the real world:

• Designing Information Spaces for Audmented Reality: The Knight Lab describes how AR has impacted journalism.
• 5 Innovative Examples of Augmented Reality in Action: Adobe shows businesses how to provide the full brand experience.
• The 10+ Best Real-World Examples of Augmented Reality Bernard Marr provides several examples of how AR is impacting education, retail, construction, tourism and more.
• Fixing Reality: How AR is being used to solve problems today: Wareable dives into how AR is helping in Medical Training, Logistics, Firefighting, and more.
• 3 Ways AR Can Transform Warehouse Management (Allerin)
• (YouTube) DHL Makes Augmented Reality a Standard in Logistics: Watch how DHL, a shipping and courier service, is transformating their warehouse using emerging tech.

Activities ⇒

What Could Go Wrong?

Augmented Reality can do some amazing things, but the technology is not perfect. Check out these articles to learn more about some things to watch out for as AR expands:

• We love augmented reality, but let's fix things that could become big problems: TechCrunch summarizes potential pitfalls and potential solutions to AR (TechCrunch).
• Augmented Reality Must Have Augmented Privacy: Learn how your privacy will be impacted when AR adds a digital layer to the world (Electronic Frontier Foundation).
• Augmented reality & augmented risks: Discover how AR can be a digital rights issue (AccessNow).
• The Important Risks and Dangers of Virtual and Augmented Reality Bernard Marr tells you what you need to know about the physical and data dangers of AR (Forbes).

How is it Made? ⇒

How is Augmented Reality Made?

Augmented Reality can be as simple or as complicated as is needed. Check out these resources to learn which team roles and responsiblities are necessary to get an AR project off the ground, and the general process of how AR is made in the real world:

• Building a Design Team that Can Create Compelling Products for VR, AR, or MR (Medium): Learn from Jeffrey Lin, the Product Design Director at Facebook.
• Transitioning to a Career in AR? VR Design (Medium): Jake Blakely from Facebook desribes the process of getting started.
• A Manager's Guide to Augmented Reality: The Harvard Business Review describes why businesses need a new strategy for AR.
• What I Learned from Designing AR Apps: Learn the full process designing and developing an AR app from someone who has been there and done that.

Try it in Your Library ⇒

Try it in Your Library

There are a few popular ways to get started with augmented reality (AR) in your library:

1. Get an AR device and demonstrate. Let people interact!
2. Use your smartphone as a device and provide tools to design AR.
3. Start talking about AR in your community. What good does it do?
4. Extra Credit: Try making your own AR creation in the library!

Try these activities and resources to get started with AR in your library.

Activities & Resources

• Gamar App:This quick and simple app is a great to experiment with AR Scavenger Hunts in the library. Note: It does not work on every device! Test the free version before you pay for any added features!
• Merge Cube: This low-cost AR tools is a fun way to learn about AR. There are also no-code options to start building your own.
• CoSpaces: This platform is popular in schools and libraries as an entry point into AR and VR. Dapple in the free version, then decide if you want to upgrade.
• Learn Unity: For those who want to dive right into learning Unity for work, game design, or fun, start with Unity's tutorials. Certificates are avaialble for educators and learners who need to prove their skills on paper.
• Google's AR Core: This is another platform you can use to develop AR. There are plenty of tutorials and it works with Unity! There are easy any complicated options.

Learning Communities ⇒

Learning Communities

The best way to learn how to make, use, or implement augmented reality is to surround yourself with people who are doing the same thing! Start local first to see if there are already some groups available, then try these online communities:

• Unity Forums: Unity is one of the leaders in AR design and development. Start here to learn the latest trends, talk about AR, and get the best tools.
• Reddit Unity 3D: This is the place to go to feature a new project, ask questions, or otherwise talk AR with Unity.
• Stack Overflow: Try this if you have specific questions about a tool or platform, like putting an app on an Android device.
• Cospaces: There is a great community forum on CoSpaces for troubleshooting and ideas.
• Also try Facebook, Twitter, and other social media for groups that pop in and out.