Virtual Reality & Object Recognition
Augmented Reality (AR) is a technology that overlays information on the users field of view. AR differs from Virtual Reality, which is a fully artificial environment, in that most of what the user observes is the natural environment with only the necessary information overlayed. Examples of AR include the Head-up display in the latest vehicles, that project speed onto the windscreen, or Google Glasses.
Simple AR applications for smartphones & tablets make use of markers of physical object to trigger the information overlay where more advanced AR makes use of GPS and compass for location and orientation. Highly sophisticated AR systems use object recognition and gesture recognition.