After 57 Years, AR Gimmicks Are Giving Way to Real Use Cases

Key Takeaways

• The first digital Augmented Reality system was created in 1968.
• In the 57 years since then, the technology has evolved from experimental prototypes to functional devices with a variety of use cases.
• Having initially struggled to find mass appeal, AR glasses could be ready for widespread adoption – if BigTech’s AI focus doesn’t halt this.

When computer graphics pioneer Ivan Sutherland created the first digital augmented reality (AR) headset in 1968, the wearer had to be strapped in to the heavy device, which was held in place with a mechanical arm.

Fast-forward 57 years and Meta’s “Orion” smart glasses, weighing just 98 grams, demonstrate just how far the concept has come. After decades of development, experimental prototypes have given way to real-world use cases and potentially, mass market appeal.

The Birth of Augmented Reality

The foundation of augmented reality can be traced back to 1968, when Sutherland created what is widely considered the first AR system. 

Known as the “Sword of Damocles,” the head-mounted display (HMD) projected simple wireframe shapes into the viewer’s visual field, using real-time computing to create an early form of immersive visualization.

The Sword of Damocles earned its nickname due to the large, heavy equipment needed to operate it, which was suspended from the ceiling like the mythical sword hanging by a thread. 

Although the hardware was too cumbersome for widespread use, Sutherland’s idea of overlaying digital content onto a real-world environment was revolutionary. And while the prototype was never commercialized, it opened the door for AR’s future potential.

The First Decades of AR

The decades following the Sword of Damocles saw incremental advancements in AR technology, mostly confined to research labs and academic settings. 

During the 1970s and 1980s, AR was primarily used for military and industrial applications. For instance, the U.S. military explored AR for use in flight simulators and heads-up displays (HUDs) which presented data in pilots’ fields of vision without them needing to check clocks and dials.

Military HUDs were an early example of how AR could enhance situational awareness by integrating real-world and digital information. But other projects would explore the notion of responsive environments where users interacted with digital objects using their body movements, 

Instead of augmenting vision through a headset, Myron Krueger’s work on “Videoplace” in the early 1970s showed viewers a live camera feed of themselves overlaid with virtual objects they could manipulate with their body movements. 

In 1992, Louis Rosenberg combined the two concepts together for the first time. Built for the  U.S. Air Force’s Armstrong Labs, Rosenberg’s Virtual Fixtures system let users control remote robotic arms that appeared in place of their physical arms through a headset.

Google Glass

Another significant chapter in AR history came in 2013 with the release of Google Glass. 

Google’s smart eyewear, designed to provide hands-free information display, was among the first attempts to bring AR into the consumer market. However, the product never really took off and was discontinued in 2015.

Despite being ahead of its time, Google Glass faced privacy concerns due to its camera, and the “Glasshole” stigma emerged as users were seen as intrusive or awkward when wearing the device in public. 

Moreover, the user interface wasn’t intuitive enough for widespread adoption, and the limited functionality made it seem more like a novelty than a necessity. Google eventually pivoted its efforts, focusing on enterprise versions of Glass designed for specialized use cases in manufacturing, healthcare, and logistics.

While Google Glass may have failed as a mainstream consumer product, it marked a key moment in the history of AR that ignited public interest and illustrated the challenges of creating practical AR devices.

Smartphone-Based AR

With the rise of smartphones in the late 2000s, AR found a new platform that could reach a broad audience. 

Apple and Google launched ARKit and ARCore, respectively, which allowed developers to create apps that leverage smartphones’ cameras and sensors to create AR experiences. 

Apps like Pokémon GO, which became a global phenomenon in 2016, showcased the potential for AR to engage users in interactive experiences that blend virtual elements with real-world environments.

Ultimately, however, smartphone-based AR applications still fall short of the technology’s full potential and can be gimmicky. AR filters on Instagram and Snapchat are fun but superficial.

Nevertheless, smartphones have played a crucial role in familiarizing the public with AR and driving further development.

Real-World AR Use Cases

As AR matured, some industries have started to realize its potential beyond consumer gimmicks. For example, manufacturing has embraced AR as a tool to improve efficiency, safety, and training.

Initially, AR’s impact on manufacturing came through smartphones and tablets. Technicians could hold up a device to see an overlay of instructions, diagnostics, or parts information, making tasks like machine maintenance more efficient. However, this type of AR still felt somewhat constrained by the limitations of the devices used.

The real breakthrough came when AR was integrated with more advanced hardware, such as smart glasses and headsets. 

Wearable devices enable workers to keep their hands free while receiving real-time visual instructions or data.

Companies like Boeing have used AR to assist technicians with assembly tasks that previously involved constantly referring to complex manuals. Now, workers can view step-by-step instructions directly on their AR displays, reducing the time needed for training and increasing accuracy.

In the broader context of industrial use, AR is being combined with robotics and AI to create a seamless and highly efficient production environment. 

By using AR, engineers can visualize the performance of machines and robots in real time, predict maintenance needs, and troubleshoot issues with minimal downtime.  Recalling Rosenberg’s Virtual Fixtures system, this fusion of AR with robotics represents a new frontier in manufacturing, where precision and efficiency can be elevated to unprecedented levels.

Beyond manufacturing, AR is also being utilized in healthcare for surgical planning and real-time guidance during procedures, as well as in logistics to optimize warehouse operations. 

Meta’s AR Journey: From Oculus to Orion

One of the key players in AR today is Meta, which entered the space in 2014 with the acquisition of Oculus. 

Initially more focused on virtual reality, Meta has since expanded into augmented reality, positioning AR as a key component of its metaverse vision.

In 2021, Meta announced the Project Aria research initiative, a precursor to its AR glasses which gathered data to help build spatial computing systems. 

Building on this, earlier this month Meta showcased its Orion smart glasses–a lightweight, consumer-friendly device designed for seamless daily use, offering features such as hands-free navigation and interactive virtual assistants.

Unfortunately for Meta, shortly after the launch two Harvard students demonstrated how Meta’s smart glasses, combined with facial recognition technology, can instantly reveal personal information, demonstrating a clear and immediate risk to the public.

Big Tech Augmented Reality Buzz Dies Down

Meta’s recent focus on AR glasses comes as its other initiatives in the space have stalled. In August, the firm announced it would close its social media AR studio to redirect resources to higher-priority areas such as AI. It also axed plans for a new high-end headset that was intended to rival Apple’s Vision Pro,

Meanwhile, Microsoft is set to discontinue its HoloLens mixed reality headsets and dial back its once ambitious metaverse plans.

After 57 years, AR has evolved from a laboratory curiosity to a technology with tangible, real-world applications. But it is still too early to gauge demand for the technology or say for certain where the real opportunity lies.

Although there have been many false starts and dead ends on the path to mainstream adoption, the concept does finally seem to be coming into its own, moving beyond gimmicks and incrementally being normalized for a wider range of applications.