1. Astigmatic realty (AR)
Description Augmented Reality (AR) is a technology which enhances a user’s real-world
view/environment by superimposing computer generated content in real time. The
computer generated visual object is superimposed/overlayed on the real world object in
such a way that it appears as if they co-exist in the same space as the real world
environment, in real time. These visual objects can be images, video or animation. Although
augmented reality has existed for quite some time, it is an evolving technology and there is
huge interest in AR as of past few years. The application of Augmented Reality ranges from
the retail, travel and tourism industry, gaming, education, engineering, manufacturing to the
medical field, among many others. Business experts believe that usage of AR would attract
more customers/users for business, without high operational cost. One of the advantage for
business in using augmented reality is that, some of the platform/hardware (i.e.,
smartphones and tablet) that are used for AR application development are easily available.
Using iPhone or Android AR application, users will be able to try on clothes without actually
wearing it or to check if the furniture fits the interior before even buying the furniture.
However, there are challenges as well, many business leaders are reluctant to change their
business models and there is a skill shortage for AR in the industry. Ethics and security
issues need to be looked into as well. You are the Chief IT Consultant for a consulting
company. One of your clients, XYZ University (XYZU), wants you to advise them on the
possibility of using emerging “Augmented Reality” technology in their teaching method.
Here are the details of your client: XYZU is a large educational institute with multiple
campuses in five different cities (Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, and Sydney)
with the main campus in Canberra. It provides undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in
all disciplines, with a student cohort consisting of both domestic students and international
students from all over the world. XYZU, one of the largest educational institutes in the
country, has noticed that their student enrolment number has decreased for the last few
terms. So, XYZU is looking into all possible areas of improvement to increase their
enrolment numbers. As a part of this strategy, XYZU is thinking of improving their teaching
methods by incorporating some cutting edge 3 technology, instead of traditional teaching
methods. Recently, the management team has heard of augmented reality technology and
believe that it might improve the student learning experience, but they do not have
expertise within the organisation. Management have also heard that usage of augmented
reality might also reduce operational costs (for some disciplines) and they think that these
savings can be used to improve student services, which will increase their students’
2. satisfaction ratings. XYZU would like you to investigate the technology involved with
augmented reality and the challenges and opportunities of AR. XYZU is also interested to
know the infrastructure/hardware/physical setup and training required, and costs involved
in incorporating augmented reality in their teaching. You and your team need to gather
information about augmented reality, and as the chief IT consultant, your task is also to
critically analyse the suitability of augmented reality in teaching for your client. You have to
complete this investigation and write a report for XYZU in the next three weeks. Since this is
an initial investigation, the report does not require in-depth technical details (the report is
aimed for both technical and non-technical stakeholders). Your research and the
subsequent report should cover the following tasks: 1. Definition of augmented reality and
the up to date developments in the field. This investigation must consider at least four
different types of industries (except education) that use/can use augmented reality. You
should provide detailed examples for all four cases. 2. Investigate application of augmented
reality in education industry. Based on this findings, propose three disciplines (for XYZU)
that could incorporate augmented reality in their students’ learning process. Provide details
of your proposal explaining how AR will be incorporated in the teaching for the chosen
disciplines. As part of this analysis, you might consider any two of the following topics (or
you can choose other topics as well): o The potential advantages and disadvantages of the
applications, o The infrastructure/hardware requirement, and o costing involved to
incorporate augmented reality in their teaching. Please provide your recommendations at
the end of the report. 3. Based on the information that you gathered, analyse critically how
augmented reality could meet your client’s goal. Your analysis should also include potential
advantages/disadvantages, costing, and ethical and/or security issue that your client needs
to consider in this case.#Astigmatic #realty
