Description: Graphic overlays in augmented reality (AR) are visual elements that integrate into the user’s physical environment, enriching their experience with additional information and visual contexts. These overlays can include images, texts, animations, and 3D models projected onto the view of the real world through devices such as smartphones, tablets, or AR glasses. The main characteristic of these overlays is their ability to interact with the real environment, allowing users to see relevant information in real-time and from different angles. This not only enhances the understanding of the presented information but also creates an immersive experience that combines the digital with the physical. Graphic overlays are fundamental in AR applications, as they enable the visualization of complex data in an intuitive and accessible manner, facilitating decision-making and learning. Their relevance lies in their ability to transform the way we interact with the world, offering new ways to visualize and understand the information around us.
History: Graphic overlays in augmented reality have their roots in technological developments of the 1960s and 1970s, when the possibilities of combining digital elements with the real world began to be explored. One of the most significant milestones was the work of Ivan Sutherland, who in 1968 created the first augmented reality system known as ‘The Sword of Damocles’. Over the years, technology has evolved, and in the 1990s, the term ‘augmented reality’ gained popularity thanks to projects like Louis Rosenberg’s, who developed the ‘Virtual Fixtures’ system for NASA. Since then, technology has advanced significantly, driven by the development of mobile devices and improvements in graphic processing capabilities.
Uses: Graphic overlays are used in a variety of fields, including education, medicine, entertainment, and marketing. In education, they allow users to visualize complex concepts through interactive 3D models. In medicine, they are used to overlay critical information during various procedures, enhancing precision and safety. In entertainment, gaming applications integrate graphic overlays to place virtual characters into the player’s real environment. In marketing, various brands employ these overlays to offer interactive experiences that engage consumers.
Examples: A notable example of graphic overlays is the IKEA Place app, which allows users to visualize furniture in their homes through their device’s camera. Another case is the use of Google Lens, which provides information about objects and places by pointing the phone’s camera at them. In the educational field, applications like Anatomy 4D allow students to explore the human body in 3D, overlaying information about organs and body systems.
