Augmented and virtual reality : integrating IT with the real world

As human beings, we use "everyday physics" to interact with the world around us. Augmented reality builds on this understanding by dynamically "enriching" physical objects with information, and by mixing physical and digital objects. Virtual reality, meanwhile, seeks to immerse the user in simulated real or imaginary worlds. This lesson describes their intertwined histories, illustrated by examples drawn from my own research into interactive paper and applied to a range of fields from air traffic control to contemporary music.