I went to some PD recently with @PaulHamilton8. Wow! The things I thought I knew and I now know about AR are amazing. I see potential in so many new aspects of teaching and learning. But first, what is AR?

Augmented Reality (AR) is a technology that blends the physical world with digital information and experiences. It enhances the real world environment with virtual objects and images, creating a new dimension to the way we interact with the world around us. In the Apple session, we really focused on Reality Composer, a free app.

Not only did it enable us to create objects to be seen in real life, but we could bring them to like with Behaviors. The behaviors have a Trigger and an Action Sequence (kind of like IF –> THEN). They also enable interaction, and could be used to create movies or stories.

Back to AR in general, he technology has been around for several years, but it has only recently gained widespread attention and interest. This is largely due to advances in computer vision, sensors, and mobile devices. With the rise of smartphones and other connected devices, AR has become more accessible and more widely used.

The potential applications of AR are virtually limitless. From entertainment and gaming to education, and commerce, AR is changing the way we interact with digital information and experiences. For example, AR can be used to create engaging and interactive gaming experiences, allowing players to use their real-world surroundings as part of the game. In the educational field, AR can be used to bring learning to life (CoSpaces), allowing students to experience concepts and ideas in a hands-on and interactive way.

In commerce, AR has the potential to revolutionize the way we shop. With AR, customers can try on clothes, see how furniture would look in their homes (IKEA), and even experience virtual test drives of cars. AR also has the potential to transform the way businesses market and sell their products, by allowing them to create interactive and immersive experiences for their customers.

One of the biggest advantages of AR is that it combines the real world with digital information, creating a more immersive and engaging experience. Unlike virtual reality, which replaces the real world with a digital environment, AR enhances the real world with additional digital information. This allows for a more natural and intuitive interaction with digital information, which is particularly useful for applications like gaming, education, and commerce.

Another advantage of AR is that it can be accessed from a variety of devices, including smartphones, tablets, and AR glasses. This makes AR more accessible to a wider range of users, and it also allows for greater flexibility in how the technology is used.

In conclusion, AR is a technology with tremendous potential to transform the way we interact with digital information and experiences. As the technology continues to evolve and improve, it is likely to become increasingly integrated into our daily lives and play an even bigger role in the future of digital interaction. Whether you are a gamer, student, shopper, or business, AR is a technology that you need to keep an eye on. Any ideas that you have? Please share.