Augmented reality is something you will be hearing about more and more in the future. To augment something is to make it greater. Thus, augmented reality (or AR) is a technology that lets us see the real world in greater ways.
Think of smartphones that can take a recording and add computer images or sound to it in real time. This mixing of the real world and the virtual world is AR in a nutshell. AR also appears on television sports broadcasts and some video games, such as the popular Pokemon GO game from 2016. Technology companies are turning to AR to help people connect their online and real-world experiences. Thanks to this connection between worlds, the use of AR is expanding rapidly every year.
Some of the most exciting AR technologies are still in the process of being developed. One of these is the Magic Leap One AR system. A remote control, a small computer engine, and a pair of special glasses make the setup. They let Magic Leap One users see AR in the real space around them. A user might view a product in their house, have virtual meetings, or project games into the room. With this technology, users can move beyond their smartphones and take AR to a whole new level.
But AR is not only a convenient tool for playing games or shopping. In the future, it may help save lives. Doctors might use AR to practice difficult operations without worrying about hurting a real patient. Cars can show headsup
displays that help drivers see important information without looking away from the road. What other things could AR help us do? With this kind of technology, the possibilities are endless.
擴增實境是未來人們會越來越耳熟能詳的科技。「augment」有「擴充、加大」的意思。因此，擴充實境（簡稱AR）就是以更豐富的方式來讓大家欣賞真實世界的科技。
想想智慧型手機，它能錄音錄影，還能即時加入電腦影像或音效。簡而言之，這種將真實世界與虛擬世界融合在一起的方式就是AR。AR也會出現在電視轉播體育賽事以及一些電玩遊戲中，像是2016年流行的「精靈寶可夢GO」等。科技公司紛紛運用AR來協助人們將網路世界與真實世界相結合，也因為這種不同世界之間的聯繫，使得AR 的普及率正逐年迅速攀升中。
某些令人引頸期盼的AR科技仍處於開發階段。其中一個例子就是「Magic Leap One AR 系統」。配備包括一支遙控器、一台小型主機，以及一副特殊眼鏡。Magic Leap One 的使用者可藉此系統看見週遭真實環境裡的AR影像。使用者可在家中查看產品、進行虛擬會議，或是在房間裡投影電玩畫面。透過這項科技，使用者就能突破智慧型手機的侷限，把AR帶進全新的疆界。
不過，AR不僅是便於打電玩或購物的利器，將來還可能協助拯救生命。醫師可運用AR 來練習艱難的手術，而不需擔心會傷及真正的病患。汽車擋風玻璃上會出現平視顯示幕，讓駕駛人在讀取重要資訊的同時，也不忘注意前方路況。AR還可以幫我們做些什麼呢？擁有AR這類的科技，就擁有無窮的可能性。
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