Augmented Reality: Panacea or Pandora's Box?

Background

Augmented reality is an emerging immersive technology that allows people to view digital content superimposed on the physical world (Cabero & Barroso, 2016). In contrast to virtual reality (VR), which creates a self-contained world via which users are insulated from the real world, AR augments perception of the real world through digital, multisensory overlays (Milgram & Kishino, 1994). The rise of enterprise and consumer AR is as exciting as it is inevitable, and even now, in its early stages of adoption, AR has made a substantial impact in industrial, retail, and training sectors (Akçayır & Akçayır, 2017; Flavián et al., 2019). The applications are potentially limitless; for example, home mechanics may “see” as experts do, diagnosing and repairing complex automotive problems despite lacking experience. One can imagine a future in which every item purchased, and every trip taken are accompanied and guided by an augmented avatar. These are just a couple of the endless possibilities. The promise and utility of AR across a variety of applications is readily apparent, yet those adopting AR technology have an obligation to do so in a manner that maximizes benefits while minimizing risks and harm. The next section provides an overview of current AR applications in three main areas: commercial applications, education and training, and military uses, and considers challenges and complications that may lie ahead.