Augmented reality (AR)

Augmented reality (AR) is one of the most popular technology fads right now, and it's only going to get bigger as AR-capable smartphones and other devices become more widely available. AR allows us to see the real-world environment right in front of us trees swaying in the park, dogs chasing balls, and youngsters playing soccer—with a digital augmentation superimposed on top of it. A pterodactyl, for example, might be seen landing amid the trees; dogs could be seen mingling with their cartoon counterparts, and children could be seen kicking a ball past an extraterrestrial spacecraft on their way to scoring a goal.

Augmented reality is used by enhanced navigation systems to superimpose a route over a live image of the road. 

During football games, broadcasters use augmented reality to draw lines on the field to depict and evaluate plays. 

Military fighter pilots view an augmented reality projection of their altitude, speed, and other data on their helmet visors, eliminating the need to squander concentration by glancing down. 

Neurosurgeons may employ an augmented reality projection of a 3-D brain during surgery. AR can project views of ancient civilizations over today's ruins at historical places such as Pompeii in Italy, bringing the past to life. 

Ground employees at Singapore's airport use augmented reality glasses to view information about cargo containers, which speeds up loading times.