It differs from virtual reality in that it doesn't attempt to replace the real world. Our prototype automated tour guide superimposes audio on the world based on where a user is located. We propose this technique for use as an automated tour guide in museums and expect it will enhance the social aspects of museum visits, compared to taped tour guides. Partly because of the different quality of sound, but it is also largely due to the social experience of being at the live show, being with your friends, and being part of the audience.
Many people believe that computation enhances our everyday lives.
But many of the forms in which computers aid us also work to isolate us. Perhaps the most glaring example of this is virtual reality, where the main point is to take us out of the physical world by replacing our senses with computer-generated ones. Augmented reality, on the other hand, is an attempt to combine our real world interactions with the richness of computational information without isolating people from each other. The basic idea is to superimpose computer generated data on top of the real world, as the person moves within it. It is quite common for museums to rent audio-tape tour guides that viewers carry around with them as they tour the exhibits.