The History of Augmented Reality
AR has a rich history dating back to the 1960s when Ivan Sutherland created “Skywriter,” a program that allowed users to draw on the screen of an oscilloscope. However, it wasn’t until the 1990s that AR began to take on a more recognizable form.
In 1992, Tomohiro Nishikado developed “Artificial Life,” a game that used AR to create a virtual world within a physical space. This marked the beginning of the modern AR era.
In the years that followed, several companies and researchers made significant contributions to the development of AR technology. In 1998, Louis Rosenfeld coined the term “augmented reality” in his book “Augmented Reality: A Primer for the Future.” He defined AR as a technology that overlays digital information onto the real world, creating an enhanced perception of the physical environment.
One of the most influential figures in the development of AR was Jaron Lanier, who co-founded the augmented reality company BlinkX in 1999. Lanier’s work focused on using AR to create interactive and immersive experiences for users. In 2000, he also founded the Augmented Reality Developer Group (ARDG), which aimed to promote the use of AR and provide a platform for developers to share their work.
Who Holds the Patent for Augmented Reality?
As with many technological innovations, there is no single entity that holds the patent for augmented reality. Instead, patents for AR technology are held by various companies and individuals who have made significant contributions to its development.
One of the earliest patents for AR was issued to Ivan Sutherland in 1968 for his work on “Skywriter.” However, this patent has since expired. In more recent years, several companies have been granted patents for their AR technology.
One of the most well-known companies in the AR space is Google. In 2013, the company announced its AR Glass project, which aimed to create a pair of glasses that could overlay digital information onto the real world. The project was ultimately shelved, but Google has continued to invest in AR technology, including the development of ARCore, an open-source AR platform.
Another major player in the AR space is Apple. In 2017, the company filed a patent for an AR headset that would allow users to interact with digital objects within the real world. The patent was granted in 2019, and it is believed that Apple is currently working on a pair of AR glasses.
Microsoft has also been active in the AR space, developing its HoloLens technology in 2016. The HoloLens is an AR headset that allows users to experience immersive, interactive holograms within their physical environment. Microsoft has filed several patents for its HoloLens technology, including one for a system that uses artificial intelligence to generate realistic virtual environments.
In addition to these major companies, there are also numerous individuals and research institutions that have contributed to the development of AR technology and hold patents for their inventions.