Communication, Technology, and Society Theresa Kubacki

Technology Brief: Augmented and Virtual Realities

Focus on Augmented Reality: Google Glass Visual Overlay
As a result of human beings inventing new forms of technology, technology has
progressively taken over real reality. Inventors change our real reality by focusing on the
advancement of virtually and augmented reality. Augmented reality is the intertwining
and attachment of technological and physical reality together. Technology becomes apart
of what we see visually. In Augmented reality, the overlay becomes a visual and
technological perception laid over real reality. The overlay is a very commonly used
technology. This reality offers an interactive connection with this technological reality.
Rather than connecting the technological world and the virtual world, virtual reality
offers new simulated world in exchange for replacing the real world. So far, this
technological research exists as a computer or headset based technology through personal
sensory experience such as eyesight, touch, and smell in order to create a life-like
experience through the use of technology. Real reality is taken taken away completely.
Basic Overview
Google Glass is an attempt towards the goal of creating augmented reality and its
function as a smartphone in the form of some fancy glasses. The user would be able to
browse the Internet, download apps, and to have conversion through text or call. Besides
the camera that requires a slight tap, Glass is operated through audio voice command.
The CPU is the central processor for Glass in order to connect all the systems of the
product: phone, camera, visual overlay, and speaker. The central processor can be
referred to as the head honcho or the manger of every specific Glass item. Sometimes it
could be described as a brain. Fig. 1 maps the key parts of Google Glass as well as its
complexity. This product has caught the interest for personal and everyday use, but the
target audience was designed for businesses and the health care system. The images are
designed to seem as if they are farther away than what they really are. The overlay is a

25 in. screen from eight feet away. Google Glass is a close attempt at augmented reality.
In order to be fully accepted as augmented reality, Google Glass must not only combine
real
Figure 1

Communication, Technology, and Society Theresa Kubacki

and technological realities but the product should
also interact with real reality. This brief will focus
on Google Glasss overlay system and function.
Visual Overlay
One possibility for Google Glass is to help
organize. If a user wanted to reorganize a room, the
user would then be able to move objects through the
sight of the visual overlay in order to capture
possible restructuring. The same strategy can be
used to work on an engine. The prism is a highly
technological screen that receives its purpose
through the projector. The user can still see the real
reality because the visual overlay projects a
translucent attempt at augmented reality.
The Google Glass relaxes over an individuals eye
to place image within the prism through the use of
the projector. This reflects the optical film in front
of the iris. The projector is located next to this
visual overlay. Close contact with this overlay
places an augmented reality in front real reality.
This is represented in Fig. 2. Users with impaired
vision would need to request and pay for specialized
glasses to fit their eyesight capability.

Figure 2

In Fig. 3 the alignment between the visual overlay

screen and the users iris must be within eyesight. A
person only needs to look 7 degrees to the right. The overlay may not be directly within
eyesight, but that is meant to prevent any casualties.

Communication, Technology, and Society Theresa Kubacki

Figure 3

Neither reality is seen as independent through the lens of Google Glass. The visual
overlay helps the user perceive real reality when the image becomes a combination as of
both realities as if the two realities belonged together. The visual overlay produces a high
resolution of 640x360. This high resolution helps the user grasp a clear view of the
image. An image resolution refers to the number of pixels that make up an image. In
order to produce such a high resolution, the visual overlay contains a spatial light
modulator: a liquid silicon layer on top of layer of silicon (LCoS) and an LED
illuminated display that reflects RGB color modules after being redirected at angle of 45
degrees by the polarizing beam splitter (PBS) and onto the LCoS. From here, specific
forms of light are organized based on the result of their active pixel sensors. This sensor
collects and connects all the pixels and connects them as if they were a puzzle. In order to
create a whole image that the out-collimating reflector narrows both motion and
alignment. This is reflected in front of the eyes of the user. The LCoS picks up on the
color in the RGB color module. Fig. 4 is a map from the projection lens to the diachronic
mirror where the image is reflected as visual overlay screen also known as the mirror
API.

Communication, Technology, and Society Theresa Kubacki

Figure 4

Further Description
Polarizing Beam Splitter creates a transformation from linear P-polarization of light with
into S-polarized light in the form of a laser.
Active Pixel Sensor is an integrated circuit made up with multiple sensors that detect
photos and motion of pixels.
Out-collimating reflector is a mirror reflection of light. This light is redirected to and
forms and image on the visual overlay. This reflector carries the image within the light
and completes the final alignments.
References
Augmented Reality. Wikipedia Foundation, Inc. March 19, 2016.
< https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augmented_reality>.
Augmented Reality and Google Glasses. Adeptpros. 2013.
<http://adeptpros.com/pdf/google-glass.pdf>.
Google Glass. Wikipedia Foundation, Inc. February 21, 2016.
< https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Glass#Features>.
Hwang Alex D. and Peli E. Augmented Edge Enhancement for Vision Impairment using

Communication, Technology, and Society Theresa Kubacki

Google. Schepens Eye Research Institute. 2014.

<http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?
doi=10.1.1.699.6186&rep=rep1&type=pdf>.
Polarizing Beamsplitters. Edmund Optics. 2016.
<http://www.edmundoptics.com/optics/beamsplitters/polarizing-beamsplitters/. >
White, Ron, Downs, Tim. How Computer Work: The Evolution of Technology. Que.
December 2014. 1780-179.
Virtual Reality. Wikipedia Foundation, Inc. March 26, 2016.
< https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_reality>.