STARSET_MirrorTSS EXCLUSIVE: Reality Check, Augmented
Jason is a contractor, working a high-rise construction site in lower Manhattan. He stands up from the kitchen table, readying himself for another day on the job. He raises his hard hat to his head, adjusting its molded plastic visor to sit squarely across his vision.
杰森是一名承包商，在曼哈顿下城的一个高层建筑工地工作。他从厨房的桌子上站起来，为又一天的工作做准备。他把他的安全帽举到头上，调整它的成型塑料遮阳板，来适应他的视野。
“Power on,” he says, taking one final bite of his breakfast bagel. “Download today’s construction plans, Building C, Floors 68 through 74.”
“开机，”他说着，吃了最后一口早餐百吉饼。”下载今天的施工计划，C栋，68到74层”
He holds his hand out, contorting his fingers like a puppet master. He moves his palm back and forth from his periphery to the center of his vision and walks through each drawing.
他伸出手来，手指像木偶大师一样扭曲着。他将手掌从视野边缘来回移动到视野中心，然后浏览每一幅画。
Jason is setting up the day’s virtual toolbox. His hard hat is not a typical plastic OSHA requirement. It’s a virtual and augmented reality helmet and an essential device for his career.
杰森正在布置今天的虚拟工具箱。他戴的安全帽并不是职业安全与职业安全条例(OSHA)的典型塑料要求。这是一个虚拟和增强现实头盔，也是他职业生涯的重要设备。
Unlike typical construction headwear, virtual and augmented realities through this helmet ensures Jason and his colleagues can walk safely through a building under construction, make virtual changes in this environment and get everything working perfectly before making real life constructions. This could be the future of BIM (Building Information Model) and all land development sites—a future influenced by augmented reality.
与典型的建筑头盔不同，通过这顶头盔实现虚拟现实和增强现实的杰森和他的同事可以安全地穿过正在施工的建筑，在这个环境中进行虚拟改变，并在进行现实生活的建筑之前让一切都完美工作。这可能是BIM(建筑信息模型)和所有土地开发站点的未来——一个受增强现实影响的未来。
VR vs. AR:
VR 和AR之间的较量
Both virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) offer users the ability to interact with their environment.
虚拟现实(VR)和增强现实(AR)都为用户提供了与环境互动的能力。
VR is a fully artificial surrounding, the illusion of reality. Users see and work with a three-dimensional imaginary environment, like a simulation machine. VR can be experienced through devices such as headsets, omni-directional treadmills, and specialized gloves.
虚拟现实是一种完全人造的环境，是现实的幻觉。用户看到并在一个三维想象的环境中工作，就像一台模拟机器。VR可以通过耳机、全方位跑步机和专用手套等设备来体验。
On the other hand, AR takes a view of the real world and augments it with an additional computer-generated environment providing an “upgraded” view of the physical world. It essentially overlays graphics on top of an existing target. For the purpose of this article, the focus will be AR.
另一方面，增强现实技术以现实世界为视角，并通过额外的计算机生成环境来增强现实世界，提供“升级”的物理世界视角。它本质上是在现有目标上叠加图形。出于本文的目的，我们将重点讨论AR。
The current state of things:
现状:
One of the largest investments in AR is occurring in the retail industry. Retailers are scrambling to include augmented reality in their shopping experiences; AR gives them an edge over the competition, allowing potential customers to experience products before making a purchase. For instance American Apparel is allowing customers to “wear” clothing—overlaying their products on virtual avatars so shoppers can visualize what the style looks like on them.
AR最大的投资之一发生在零售行业。零售商们正争相将增强现实技术纳入购物体验;增强现实技术使他们在竞争中具有优势，允许潜在客户在购买之前体验产品。例如，American Apparel允许顾客“穿”衣服——把他们的产品覆盖在虚拟化身上，这样顾客就可以看到衣服穿在身上的样子。
AR is not just limited to clothing. Shoe stores such as Converse created a mobile AR app so customers can try on their shoes. Ikea created their own app to allow shoppers to place furniture within their homes and check for fit, color, and size. Shoppers can also sample paint colors for walls, virtually apply cosmetics, or try on luxury jewelry.
增强现实技术不仅局限于服装。匡威等鞋店开发了一款移动AR应用程序，让顾客可以试穿他们的鞋子。宜家开发了自己的应用程序，让购物者可以在家里摆放家具，并检查是否合身、颜色和大小。购物者还可以在这里试漆墙壁的颜色，虚拟化妆，或者试戴奢华珠宝。
Augmented reality technology and use has already gone mainstream, albeit on a low-level scale. Various popular Snapchat filters employ some form of augmentation. Recently, the company has even announced larger scale AR experiences at Disneyland and Universal Studios. New advancements in “wearables”, such as HTC’s Vive Pro, allow for better wireless AR experiences.
增强现实技术和应用已经成为主流，尽管是在低水平上。各种流行的Snapchat滤镜都采用了某种形式的增强功能。最近，该公司甚至宣布在迪士尼乐园和环球影城进行更大规模的AR体验。“可穿戴设备”的新进展，如HTC的Vive Pro，可以提供更好的无线AR体验。
And things aren’t stopping there. With the ARCore from Google, augmented reality applications can now be built easily for Android devices. For iOS users, Apple has released the ARKit2 for the development of mobile applications for their platform.
事情并没有就此停止。通过谷歌的ARCore，现在可以轻松地为Android设备构建增强现实应用程序。对于iOS用户，苹果发布了ARKit2，用于开发他们平台上的移动应用程序。
The near future:
不远的将来：
While some still believe augmented reality is only for developing games that keep players immersed (i.e. 2016’s Pokémon Go craze), the technology has great potential across the economic frontier. According to Lumus, an Israeli-based Augmented Reality company, AR is projected to generate revenue as high as $2.6 billion and $4.1 billion in just the real estate and medicine industries by the year 2025. The AR market could be worth as much as $162 billion, according to the BBC.
尽管有些人仍然认为增强现实技术只能用于开发让玩家沉浸其中的游戏(比如2016年的Pokémon围棋热潮)，但这项技术在经济领域有着巨大的潜力。总部位于以色列的增强现实公司Lumus表示，到2025年，仅在房地产和医药行业，AR就有望创造高达26亿美元和41亿美元的收入。据BBC报道，AR市场价值可能高达1620亿美元。
Augmented reality could bring about a future where sellers could display their products just about anywhere, without the need for a huge physical store. Through augmented e-commerce, consumers can try out products, getting a virtual feel for them before purchasing them.
增强现实技术可能会带来这样一个未来，卖家可以在任何地方展示他们的产品，而不需要一个巨大的实体店。通过增强电子商务，消费者可以试用产品，在购买之前获得虚拟的感觉。
The future of digital marketing and advertising could benefit massively from augmented reality, as targeted customers can be exposed to “real” advertisements. This could increase the conversion rates for digital marketers, as sellers are more likely to purchase products with an increase in exposure to interactive advertisements.
数字营销和广告的未来可能会从增强现实技术中受益匪浅，因为目标客户可以接触到“真实的”广告。这可能会提高数字营销人员的转化率，因为卖家更有可能购买互动广告曝光量增加的产品。
The drawbacks:
缺点：
It’s possible for someone to walk around an urban downtown with their AR headsets active, deleting scenes they don’t want to see. Imagine thinking away homeless people on the street or erasing trash and plastics along a beach front and creating a personalized utopia. The restructured reality could become a weapon for spreading apathy and indifference, working against environmental and societal concerns.
人们可以带着增强现实耳机在市中心散步，删除他们不想看到的场景。想象一下，赶走街上无家可归的人，或者擦掉海滩边的垃圾和塑料，创造一个个性化的乌托邦。重组后的现实可能成为传播冷漠和冷漠的武器，与环境和社会关切背道而驰。
Other mental and psychological concerns include addiction and over-dependency on AR technology. A person could such a dopamine junkie, their sleep cycles will be altered and their bodies will be more susceptible to fatigue.
其他精神和心理问题包括对增强现实技术的上瘾和过度依赖。如果一个人沉迷于多巴胺，他的睡眠周期就会被改变，身体也会更容易疲劳。
Physical hazards could include eye strain and hearing loss from increased headset usage. Dizziness, disorientation, or confusion could occur if a user were too immersed in the AR. Injuries—or worse, death—have been documented with games such as Pokemon Go and this could increase as the technology spreads.
由于耳机使用的增加，身体上的危害包括眼睛疲劳和听力损失。如果用户太沉浸在AR中，可能会出现头晕、迷失方向或混乱。《精灵宝可梦Go》等游戏已经记录了受伤甚至死亡的情况，随着AR技术的推广，这种情况可能会增加。
Privacy and security concerns are always a possibility with any technology, augmented reality being no different. Imagine what would happen if a person accidentally installs malware that piggybacked onto a popular AR app and they are using the app in an urban environment. What would stop the malware from deleting oncoming traffic or convincing a user it was safe to cross a pedestrian crosswalk? What other malicious intents could occur?
任何技术都可能存在隐私和安全问题，增强现实也不例外。想象一下，如果一个人不小心在一个流行的AR应用程序上安装了恶意软件，并且他们在城市环境中使用该应用程序，会发生什么。怎样才能阻止恶意软件删除迎面而来的车辆，或者让用户相信过人行横道是安全的?还有什么其他恶意意图?
The possibilities ahead:
目前存在的可能性：
AR technology continues to expand with almost a limitless line of sight and possibilities. And, while it’s been embraced through gaming and retail areas, it will easily branch into other fields such as education, training, aviation, and health services.
AR技术以几乎无限的视野和可能性不断扩展。而且，虽然它已经被游戏和零售领域所接受，但它很容易扩展到教育、培训、航空和医疗服务等其他领域。
Imagine an open-heart surgery where the patient’s anatomy is augmented to warn of any impending issues or dangers, where his or her next tool is listed, where appropriate medicines are suggested, and where the patient’s vitals are displayed clearly in his vision. Efficiency, safety, and reliability would all be improved.
想象一下，在一次开胸手术中，患者的解剖结构被增强，以警告任何即将发生的问题或危险，他或她的下一个工具被列出，适当的药物被建议，患者的生命体征在他的视觉中清晰地显示出来。效率、安全性和可靠性都将得到提高。
An aircraft mechanic will be able work on the critical components of an engine, each critical step listed, every part and loose bolt highlighted, and every tool accounted for. Any misstep and his eyes flash with warnings. Considering that maintenance errors contributed to 42% of fatal airline accidents in the US from 1994-2004, AR improvements could bring about a massive reduction in the loss of lives.
飞机机械师将能够在发动机的关键部件上工作，列出每个关键步骤，突出显示每个部件和松动的螺栓，并说明每个工具。稍有不慎，他的眼睛就闪着警告的光芒。考虑到从1994年到2004年美国42%的致命航空事故是由维护错误造成的，增强现实技术的改进可能会大大减少生命损失。
The military, and even policing, could be improved. AR could visually assist policemen to inform them of whether or not a suspect was armed, greatly reducing the amount of erroneous police shootings. Some departments are already using police AR technology for training patrol officers, SWAT teams, and crime scene investigators.
军队，甚至警察都可以得到改善。AR可以直观地帮助警察了解嫌疑人是否携带武器，大大减少了警察错误射击的数量。一些部门已经在使用警用AR技术来培训巡警、特警和犯罪现场调查人员。
For STEM students, experiments, practice, and repairs can be possible without putting funds or lives on the line. Students would no longer be exposed to toxic lab environments or situations. Marine biology students could use the HTC Vive headset and study the effects of carbon dioxide on marine life. Structural engineers could study tensive and compressive strengths of various materials. Virtual field trips could be taken around the world and help students monitor environmental effects.
对于STEM学生来说，实验、实践和维修都可以在不冒资金或生命危险的情况下进行。学生们将不再暴露在有毒的实验室环境或情况下。海洋生物专业的学生可以使用HTC Vive耳机来研究二氧化碳对海洋生物的影响。结构工程师可以研究各种材料的抗拉和抗压强度。虚拟实地考察可以在世界各地进行，帮助学生监测环境影响。
Augmented reality has no lack of possibility. It’s breadth is as limited as the imagination. Through this technology, the world of the future would find their experiences more enriching than ever before.
增强现实技术不乏可能性。它的广度和想象力一样有限。通过这项技术，未来的世界会发现他们的经历比以往任何时候都更加丰富。
