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Dartmouth College Library Research Guides

Augmented Reality: About AR

As technology advances, how we interact with and learn within our environment holds almost unlimited potential through the use of augmented reality. (Amanda Albright)

AR Defined

The 2011 Horizon Report published by the New Media Consortium provides the following definition: Augmented reality (AR) refers to the addition of a

While augmented reality has been in existence for almost three decades, it has only been in the last few years that the technology has become fast enough and affordable enough for the general population to access. This resource guide will attempt to provide information about what augmented reality is and the role it can play in teaching, learning, and life.

Augmented Reality Explained

Types of AR

There are two primary types of AR implementations: Marker Based and Markerless.

  • Marker-based implementation utilizes some type of image such as a QR/2D code to produce a result when it is sensed by a reader, typically a camera on a cell phone.
  • Markerless AR is often more reliant on the capabilities of the device being used such as the GPS location, velocity meter, etc. It may also be referred to as Location-based or Position-based AR.

Both Marker-based and Markerless AR require AR specific software or browsers to function. Marker-based AR is currently the most prevalent and easiest to accomplish. While Markerless AR is emerging, it is currently rather limited due to sensor accuracy (i.e. GPS accuracy anywhere between 10 – 50 meters), service limits (i.e. indoors vs outdoors), bandwidth requirements (4G is not a reality in all places nor can the devices currently in existence actually handle it), and power pulls on the devices.

National Geographic does Augmented Reality

Educational Technologies

Educational Technologies
Barbara Knauff 646-0786