AR, or rather Augmented Reality to give its proper title, simply refers to using a display device to provide a visual overlay of useful information, over an existing 'live' image.

Examples might be to provide a navigation system on a car windscreen, so we see through to the road, and yet see the supplemental navigation information. It might be to view an empty show-house, with super-imposed furniture. Or it might be to view medical results, such as live ultrasounds results over a patient on a handheld display.

It can be interactive or provide training, such as a suggested repair instructions over an engine for a client to attempt remote analysis before an engineer with part is dispatched. It may be to provide a personal guide around a museum, showing you details of various works of art as your tablet, or iPad moves is directed towards it, or it may provide comparative information on pricing when in the supermarket if the camera on your phone is pointed at the supermarket shelves, and does some clever product recognition based on product labels.

It can combine information collected from the camera on your device, with GPS location information, with internet information, as well as seamlessly connecting to other personal devices providing additional information.

Augmented reality extends beyond the phone or tablet device, and into wearable headsets, like the Google Glass or Epson Moverio, among other examples, most many major home electronics companies expanding into this ever increasing space.

With the increase in supporting hardware, the next big jump in this decade will be the increased number of Augmented Reality Applications, to help super-impose (augment) intelligent data display with images of the outside world around us. It moves us from a virtual reality into a data combined reality, in which we can actively live.

We see this as the future. Combined with ever more clever technology, AR is a great leap forward in making the most of available data, imagery and data collection capabilities.

At AR Apps, you will find a breakdown on useful applications out there, as well as details of some of our own released products, crowd-funded projects, and joint ventures in which we are invested. It also includes a range of ideas we believe are going to appear when technology catches up, which we aren't quite ready for.

To find out more, subscribe to our newsletter.