In this blog post, we will examine the core technologies and applications of augmented reality (AR)—which gained significant attention following the ‘Pokémon Go’ craze—as well as related issues and future prospects.

The Combination of Augmented Reality and Location-Based Technology

Released worldwide in July 2016, ‘Pokémon Go’ is a game that overlays virtual Pokémon characters onto real-world images, allowing players to collect Pokémon with Poké Balls and compete with other users. The game sparked a massive global craze. Although South Korea was excluded from the official launch, once it became known that the game could be played in certain areas such as Sokcho in Gangwon Province and Ulleungdo, large crowds flocked to these locations, leading to a commotion where bus and train tickets to Sokcho sold out.
One of the core technologies used in ‘Pokémon Go’ is Augmented Reality (AR). Augmented reality is a technology that overlays virtual information or characters onto real-world background footage, and it is distinctly different from virtual reality (VR). While virtual reality presents virtual scenes and characters entirely within a virtual space, augmented reality combines virtual elements with footage of the real world. Therefore, it is easy to distinguish between the two concepts by understanding ‘Pokémon Go’ as an example of augmented reality and thinking of typical computer games as examples of virtual reality.
Another key technology is the Global Positioning System (GPS). GPS is a system that calculates a user’s current location by receiving satellite signals and is widely used in navigation systems and smartphones. In ‘Pokémon Go,’ GPS determines the user’s current location and combines information about the actual physical space with virtual information. Users move around in the real world to catch Pokémon, and at those locations, Pokémon rendered in augmented reality appear on the screen, blended with the real-world environment. In this way, GPS provides the user’s location data, making it an essential technology for implementing augmented reality.

Examples of Augmented Reality and Ethical Issues

Augmented reality is not a technology that emerged suddenly. The method of overlaying familiar virtual information onto a real-world background has already been utilized in various fields. With the introduction of ‘Google Glass’ in 2012, augmented reality garnered renewed attention, and it is currently used extensively across diverse sectors. ‘Google Glass’ is a type of wearable computer in the form of glasses and can be considered a representative example of augmented reality technology.
The augmented reality technology applied to ‘Google Glass’ offers various functions, including searching for and providing information on the surrounding area, navigation, video sharing, and real-time translation. Many people showed interest in these new and convenient features, and it is reported that pre-orders were placed even at the high price of $1,500 per unit during the pre-sale period. Furthermore, augmented reality has become an integral part of our daily lives and offers significant convenience through applications such as QR codes, apps that provide book information by scanning book covers, and navigation systems that use real-world spaces captured by a camera as backgrounds. In this way, augmented reality has garnered attention by living up to the expectation that the vision depicted in the movie ‘Minority Report’ could become a reality.
However, not everyone is singing its praises. Concerns about privacy infringement due to technological advancements have also been raised. “Google Glass” and future AR-based smart devices are often compared to the ‘Scouter’ from the manga “Dragon Ball,” as they can instantly display information about a person without their consent.
In fact, wearable devices can very easily record and store the real world as seen by the user, and no one would want their information exposed so easily. This could lead to serious privacy violations.
Accordingly, it is necessary to enact relevant laws and emphasize technological ethics to prevent the indiscriminate spread of technologies that pose a risk of privacy infringement. Norms and systems must be established to protect individual rights and safety while still enjoying the convenience provided by technological advancements.