Self-study|IT|Int|Lesson 9: VR and AR

Before reading the text, study the following words and their definitions:

Glossary

• to interact — to communicate with or react to
• to transport — to move someone or something from one place to another
• to construct — to build something
• dedicated — designed to be used for one particular purpose
• to overlay — to cover something with a layer of something
• versatile — able to change easily from one activity to another or able to be used for many different purposes
• a beacon — a device that sends a signal or information
• to merge — to combine or join together
• to overlap — to partly cover something with a layer of something else

Alongside AI and automation, virtual reality and augmented reality have been touted for several years now as technologies likely to have a profoundly transformative effect on the way we live and work, and they are increasingly being adopted in both entertainment and industry.

The Snapchat and Instagram filters we use, for example, bunny ears and cat whiskers on selfies, are a very consumer-facing application of AI tech combined with AR.

Another example of AR is AR apps that have altered the way consumers look for their items and shop online. For instance, IKEA has launched an AR app that allows users to scan the room and see furniture in 3D in that same room. They can position the furniture and change its color, which allows users to engage with furniture like never before.

For more scientific use cases, there’s Google’s machine learning-enabled microscope to look forward to, which will be able to highlight tissue which it suspects could be a cancerous tumor growth as a pathologist is looking at samples through the viewfinder.

In addition, both technologies have obvious use cases in education. Virtual environments allow students to practice anything from construction to flight to surgery without the risks associated with real-world training. For example, Walmart used 17,000 Oculus Go headsets to train its employees in skills ranging from compliance to customer service.

Experts predict the AR/VR industry to reach more than $25 billion by 2025— and the growth will continue steadily. Brands like Sony Pictures, Netflix, Travel Nevada, CVS, and more, have all invested in 360° VR and AR experiences to incorporate immersive marketing. They’ll use immersive formats as part of their performance marketing since immersive ads perform better than flat ads.

Two of the most significant trends in new vehicles will be voice assistants and in-car AR. Powered by machine learning, Nvidia’s Drive AR platform uses a dashboard-mounted display overlaying graphics on camera footage from around the car, pointing out everything from hazards to historic landmarks along the way. Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Tesla, Toyota, and Volvo have all signed to work with the technology.

Before listening to the recording, study the following words and their definitions:

Glossary

• to tout — to advertise, talk about, or praise something or someone repeatedly
• consumer-facing — an adjective used to describe a hardware or software product, technology, or anything that the customer of a business deals with directly
• to alter — to change
• compliance — the act of obeying an order, rule, or request
• a viewfinder — the part of a camera that you look through to see what it is that you are taking a photograph of
• immersive — seeming to surround the audience, player, etc. so that they feel completely involved in something
• a hazard — something that is dangerous and likely to cause damage

Alongside AI and automation, virtual reality and augmented reality have been touted for several years now as technologies likely to have a profoundly transformative effect on the way we live and work, and they are increasingly being adopted in both entertainment and industry.

The Snapchat and Instagram filters we use, for example, bunny ears and cat whiskers on selfies, are a very consumer-facing application of AI tech combined with AR.

Another example of AR is AR apps that have altered the way consumers look for their items and shop online. For instance, IKEA has launched an AR app that allows users to scan the room and see furniture in 3D in that same room. They can position the furniture and change its color, which allows users to engage with furniture like never before.

For more scientific use cases, there’s Google’s machine learning-enabled microscope to look forward to, which will be able to highlight tissue which it suspects could be a cancerous tumor growth as a pathologist is looking at samples through the viewfinder.

In addition, both technologies have obvious use cases in education. Virtual environments allow students to practice anything from construction to flight to surgery without the risks associated with real-world training. For example, Walmart used 17,000 Oculus Go headsets to train its employees in skills ranging from compliance to customer service.

Experts predict the AR/VR industry to reach more than $25 billion by 2025— and the growth will continue steadily. Brands like Sony Pictures, Netflix, Travel Nevada, CVS, and more, have all invested in 360° VR and AR experiences to incorporate immersive marketing. They’ll use immersive formats as part of their performance marketing since immersive ads perform better than flat ads.

Two of the most significant trends in new vehicles will be voice assistants and in-car AR. Powered by machine learning, Nvidia’s Drive AR platform uses a dashboard-mounted display overlaying graphics on camera footage from around the car, pointing out everything from hazards to historic landmarks along the way. Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Tesla, Toyota, and Volvo have all signed to work with the technology.

1. virtual reality
2. augmented reality
3. mixed reality
4. interact
5. transport
6. construct
7. dedicated
8. overlay
9. versatile
10. beacon
11. merge
12. anchor
13. overlap
14. tout
15. consumer
16. alter
17. viewfinder
18. immersive
19. hazard

1. virtual reality
2. augmented reality
3. mixed reality
4. interact
5. transport
6. construct
7. dedicated
8. overlay
9. versatile
10. beacon
11. merge
12. anchor
13. overlap
14. tout
15. consumer
16. alter
17. viewfinder
18. immersive
19. hazard