Sports enthusiasts are well-suited to be early adopters of augmented reality (AR) technology because they are already comfortable wearing specialized equipment like goggles during activities and are willing to pay for devices that improve their performance, unlike the general public that finds head-mounted AR displays too bulky and expensive. AR applications for activities like running and swimming that integrate virtual competitions, metrics, and games could appeal to sports enthusiasts and help demonstrate the technology's potential to a wider audience. As outdoor GPS accuracy and AR technology improves, sports may prove to be the "killer application" that popularizes the use of AR headsets.

1. why Sports Enthusiasts are the future of ARRouli Nir | January 2011 | artimes.rouli.net | gamesalfresco.com | @augmented

2. Phone based augmented reality is coolbut very limitedhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/plantronicsgermany/4540853608/

3. Are small screen size & low accuracythe reason there’s no killer application yet?http://www.flickr.com/photos/pftqg/18633093/sizes/z/

4. On the other hand, no one in his right mind will usehead mounted displays in public.

5. They just look sillyand are quite expensivehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/mvoorzanger/2898646875/

6. but some people arenot afraid of looking sillyhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/teamtraveller/3378863252

7. and are willing to pay good moneyto improve their performancehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/donnaoneill/4363695301/

8. we call themsport enthusiasts

9. is augmented reality and sportsa match made in heaven?http://www.flickr.com/photos/kodomut/2875070587/

10. GPS accuracy is good enough outdoorsand some are already in the habit of wearing goggles http://www.flickr.com/photos/kodomut/2875070587/

11. think of all the applicationsthat are possible today

12. you will constantly see yourheart rate and distance coveredhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/yourdon/3592318078/

13. you will be able to competeagainst a virtual avatarhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/lokner/3548996973/

14. which could be a world championor yourself from last weekhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/jimmyharris/116157704/

15. collect gold coins while you runor escape sharks in the poolhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/yourdon/2174897924/

16. and best of all,sport enthusiasts are a bridgehead to the greater populace.

17. can AR goggles beas common as sneakers?http://www.flickr.com/photos/niznoz/294561018/