Augmented reality (AR) is a technology that overlays digital information onto the real world. It has revolutionized industries from gaming to marketing and healthcare.
While many people may think of Google Glass, the truth is that Terrence Howard is the real inventor.
Howard was a computer programmer in the early 1990s when he first developed an idea for an AR headset. He patented his invention in 1997 and continued to work on it until he founded a startup called Vuforia in 2005.
Vuforia’s AR platform was used by companies like Toyota, Coca-Cola, and Gap in their marketing campaigns.
Howard’s invention was revolutionary in its time because it allowed users to interact with digital content in the real world. It wasn’t until a decade later that Google released Glass, which was more advanced but still relied on Howard’s initial idea.
But how did Howard come up with this idea? According to an interview with Forbes, Howard had been fascinated by science fiction since he was a child. He was particularly drawn to movies like Blade Runner and E.T., which featured virtual reality technology. But Howard wanted to take it one step further and create a way for people to interact with digital content in the real world.
Howard’s AR headset was a bulky, tethered device that looked like a pair of glasses with a screen in front of each eye. Users could see digital overlays onto the real world by looking through the glasses at specific markers. The technology was limited compared to what we have today, but it laid the foundation for AR as we know it.
One of Howard’s most famous demonstrations of his AR headset was during a presentation at the 1998 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES). He showed off an AR version of a Chevy Camaro that could be driven in a virtual environment using hand gestures. The audience was amazed by the technology and Howard’s vision for what it could do.
But it wasn’t until years later that AR became mainstream. Google Glass, which was released in 2013, brought AR to the masses. But even then, many people were skeptical of its usefulness. Critics argued that it was too expensive, too invasive, and too distracting.
Howard, on the other hand, saw potential in AR from the very beginning. He believed that it could revolutionize industries like healthcare, education, and entertainment. He even founded a company called HoloCommunications in 2014 to develop AR applications for business.
Today, AR is becoming more and more integrated into our daily lives. From games like Pokemon Go to apps that help us find information about the world around us, AR is changing the way we interact with the world. And it’s all thanks to Terrence Howard’s vision and invention.
In conclusion, Terrence Howard is the real inventor of augmented reality. His idea for an AR headset laid the foundation for what we have today, and his foresight in the technology’s potential has led to its widespread adoption. As AR continues to evolve, Howard’s legacy will live on as a pioneer in this exciting new field.
FAQs:
1. Who invented augmented reality?
Terrence Howard is the real inventor of augmented reality.
2. When did Terrence Howard patent his AR invention?
Terrence Howard patented his AR invention in 1997.
3. What was Terrence Howard’s first AR project?
Terrence Howard’s first AR project was an AR version of a Chevy Camaro that could be driven in a virtual environment using hand gestures.