0:00:05 > 0:00:08This is Technobabble! Well, not quite.
0:00:08 > 0:00:11Actually, this is Technobabble's younger sibling, Technobyte,
0:00:11 > 0:00:13but it's no less tech-tastic.
0:00:13 > 0:00:16And it's time to check out the latest ponderable puzzle
0:00:16 > 0:00:17via our randomly named messaging app.
0:00:17 > 0:00:19How will augmented reality
0:00:19 > 0:00:21change in the future?
0:00:21 > 0:00:23Now there's a question, Hannah.
0:00:23 > 0:00:24A question I can't answer.
0:00:24 > 0:00:27Let's call in the reinforcements.
0:00:28 > 0:00:31I am sending Maya off to meet a bunch of UK developers
0:00:31 > 0:00:33that specialise in augmented reality.
0:00:33 > 0:00:35Helping her is techspert
0:00:35 > 0:00:37Kieran Sawyer who knows all about
0:00:37 > 0:00:40this extra-dimensional technology.
0:00:40 > 0:00:42Thinking about it, you've got virtual reality,
0:00:42 > 0:00:44which I know a little bit about.
0:00:44 > 0:00:47You get something, you put it in the virtual world, walks around,
0:00:47 > 0:00:51touches things, does things, but augmented, don't have a clue.
0:00:51 > 0:00:53- It's essentially, the opposite.- OK.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56So we are bringing this virtual content into the real world,
0:00:56 > 0:00:59so it appears in front of you every day.
0:00:59 > 0:01:02- How does it actually work?- OK. So, what you have is a device
0:01:02 > 0:01:05- which we have taught to look for something.- Mm-hm.- OK?
0:01:05 > 0:01:08When it recognises that thing, it will then create that content
0:01:08 > 0:01:10and show that content in front of you.
0:01:10 > 0:01:12It brings it all to life in the real world.
0:01:12 > 0:01:14- Could you show me?- Yeah, definitely.
0:01:14 > 0:01:17So, we have an iPad here which is taught to look for this box.
0:01:17 > 0:01:20All right. Oh, my gosh, it's just turned into cartoon,
0:01:20 > 0:01:22and it's opening. The box...
0:01:23 > 0:01:27The box on the table is not doing anything but this box...
0:01:27 > 0:01:30And a car has flown out of it. This is insane. How is it doing this?
0:01:30 > 0:01:32What it's doing is it's looking
0:01:32 > 0:01:34at this and it's recognising the box.
0:01:34 > 0:01:35It recognises the box and then
0:01:35 > 0:01:36shows this content.
0:01:36 > 0:01:38So if you don't like the colour,
0:01:38 > 0:01:39for example, you can change it.
0:01:39 > 0:01:43Wow. So I am literally editing this box.
0:01:43 > 0:01:45- But there's no car in real life. I'm so confused.- You can move the box.
0:01:45 > 0:01:47You can move...
0:01:47 > 0:01:50Wow! And how does the technology work behind this?
0:01:50 > 0:01:52Essentially, what we're doing is we've got a device that has
0:01:52 > 0:01:54an app on and we're just looking for something.
0:01:54 > 0:01:57We've taught the device what to look for and then when it recognises it,
0:01:57 > 0:01:59it then starts to make magic come to life.
0:01:59 > 0:02:02- I've showed you a really simple version that involved the car.- Yes.
0:02:02 > 0:02:04Now I've got something really cutting edge you might
0:02:04 > 0:02:05want to come and look at.
0:02:05 > 0:02:08- What do you think?- Yeah, let's go. Let's have a look.- Shall we go?
0:02:11 > 0:02:13So this is putting you into augmented reality.
0:02:13 > 0:02:17- It's live and not many people have done it.- How is that happening?
0:02:17 > 0:02:19We have got a camera there with some infrared sensors.
0:02:19 > 0:02:21When you move around, that tracks your body, OK?
0:02:21 > 0:02:25All those movements that you do then appear here in real-time.
0:02:25 > 0:02:27OK, so that is me in my favourite dress on that screen.
0:02:27 > 0:02:29- That's you right there. - That is incredible.
0:02:29 > 0:02:32- Right, so... - SHE CHUCKLES
0:02:32 > 0:02:34- And this means, can I kick?- You can.
0:02:34 > 0:02:36Try kick the ball.
0:02:36 > 0:02:38- Oh, you're not very good at that, are you?- I'm missing.
0:02:38 > 0:02:42- What I can do is start throwing some stuff at you.- Wow.
0:02:42 > 0:02:44- What did you just throw?- Pies.
0:02:44 > 0:02:46- Pies at me?- Yeah.
0:02:46 > 0:02:47I want to be something else.
0:02:47 > 0:02:48Something else?
0:02:49 > 0:02:52I'm a penguin! Woo!
0:02:53 > 0:02:57- Shall we turn you back to yourself again?- Yes.- Back to normality.
0:02:57 > 0:03:01- From here, a spitting image. - Perfect.- Basic...
0:03:01 > 0:03:04Hi, Mya Two, covered in spiders.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08So what is AR actually used for right now?
0:03:08 > 0:03:10Might be using it for learning things, so, like, at school.
0:03:10 > 0:03:13So at the moment it might be that you're learning about volcanoes.
0:03:13 > 0:03:16Obviously, volcanoes are quite difficult to understand
0:03:16 > 0:03:18because you can't really go up and see one,
0:03:18 > 0:03:19it's a little bit dangerous.
0:03:19 > 0:03:21But what we could do is create a 3-D version that then could
0:03:21 > 0:03:24explode in front of you, show how they explode,
0:03:24 > 0:03:27cut them apart so you can look inside the volcano
0:03:27 > 0:03:28and exactly how it works.
0:03:28 > 0:03:30How is it going to change in the future?
0:03:30 > 0:03:32So, in the future I don't think we'll actually need devices at all.
0:03:32 > 0:03:35You know, we're going to be able to walk around and just see AR.
0:03:35 > 0:03:38It's just going to appear and it'll be part of everyday life,
0:03:38 > 0:03:41and we'll probably struggle to tell the difference between what's AR
0:03:41 > 0:03:43- and what's not AR, actually. - That is insane, Kieran.
0:03:43 > 0:03:45I'm still just trying to get my mind around it now.
0:03:45 > 0:03:49- Talk about jumping out the screen at you.- You're not wrong, Mya.
0:03:49 > 0:03:50Look, there's more.
0:03:50 > 0:03:54This is HoloLens - a smart glasses headset that mixes reality
0:03:54 > 0:03:55with holograms.
0:03:55 > 0:03:59There's no screen or mouse, just holograms created by gestures,
0:03:59 > 0:04:03apps controlled by your voice and navigating with glances.
0:04:03 > 0:04:07This much anticipated bit of kit could transform the everyday way
0:04:07 > 0:04:08we interact with the world.
0:04:08 > 0:04:12From making your TV massive to doing spells like Harry Potter
0:04:12 > 0:04:15and even playing golf on Mars!
0:04:15 > 0:04:20- That is out of this world. - Hm, nearly 7% funny there, Mya.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23American thrill-seeker's are working on combining virtual and
0:04:23 > 0:04:26augmented reality to make real-world videogames.
0:04:26 > 0:04:28Like a cross between Laser Quest and a games console,
0:04:28 > 0:04:31this could be the theme park of the future,
0:04:31 > 0:04:33letting you take down fantasy monsters and interact with
0:04:33 > 0:04:36physical objects in a truly immersive world.
0:04:36 > 0:04:38Bring it on. When can I have a go?
0:04:38 > 0:04:40Not till I've had a go, Mya.
0:04:40 > 0:04:41BREATHES HEAVILY
0:04:41 > 0:04:43I can sense a force,
0:04:43 > 0:04:45a Technobabbler force. BREATHES HEAVILY
0:04:45 > 0:04:47Hey, blogster,
0:04:47 > 0:04:50could we build a real lightsaber?
0:04:51 > 0:04:52BREATHES HEAVILY
0:04:52 > 0:04:55IMITATES DARTH VADER: The Force is strong with this one.
0:04:55 > 0:04:57BREATHES HEAVILY
0:04:57 > 0:04:58Great question, Eugene.
0:04:58 > 0:05:01I've always wanted a lightsaber powerful enough to cut through
0:05:01 > 0:05:05reinforced steel, storm troopers and cute little kittens.
0:05:05 > 0:05:07Ooh, no. Maybe not kittens.
0:05:07 > 0:05:09Accessing databanks.
0:05:09 > 0:05:14A Star Wars fan in the US of A claims to have built something
0:05:14 > 0:05:17close to a lightsaber using a powerful blue laser and
0:05:17 > 0:05:20two strong lithium-ion batteries.
0:05:20 > 0:05:23This DIY version can burn through paper,
0:05:23 > 0:05:26cardboard tubes and even a plastic ping-pong ball.
0:05:26 > 0:05:27But there's a flaw.
0:05:27 > 0:05:31Unlike a classic lightsaber, which has a short, easy to handle beam,
0:05:31 > 0:05:36this home-made laser never stops unless something gets in the way.
0:05:36 > 0:05:38And that means in the throes of battle,
0:05:38 > 0:05:42the slightest slip from your laser lightsaber could take out
0:05:42 > 0:05:43your enemies, friends,
0:05:43 > 0:05:46or that unsuspecting person waiting for the bus.
0:05:46 > 0:05:48Back to the drawing board.
0:05:48 > 0:05:50And staying in America,
0:05:50 > 0:05:54a defence firm has developed the metal vapour torch.
0:05:54 > 0:05:57It looks just like an ordinary torch but at the push of a button
0:05:57 > 0:05:59fires out a fiery blade
0:05:59 > 0:06:03powerful enough to slice through solid metal.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06This jet of flame is created by a chemical reaction between
0:06:06 > 0:06:10copper oxide, magnesium and aluminium particles.
0:06:10 > 0:06:14Sadly, the torch's effect only last a few seconds.
0:06:14 > 0:06:17Useless if you're mid dual with a Sith Lord who won't hesitate
0:06:17 > 0:06:21to finish you off as you fumble to find a refill.
0:06:21 > 0:06:24There is a new hope though because
0:06:24 > 0:06:27techsperts at Harvard and MIT universities
0:06:27 > 0:06:30have made an unusual discovery.
0:06:30 > 0:06:33Light is made from tiny particles called photons.
0:06:33 > 0:06:37Most of the time photons weigh nothing and don't like to play.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40If you shoot one laser beam at another the photons in them
0:06:40 > 0:06:43just pass right through each other without so much as a high five.
0:06:43 > 0:06:47But, in an extremely cold vacuum chamber researchers got photons
0:06:47 > 0:06:51to join together, making completely new hardened molecules
0:06:51 > 0:06:53that behaved very differently.
0:06:53 > 0:06:57These photons pushed against and deflected each other,
0:06:57 > 0:06:59just like a Jedi lightsaber!
0:07:00 > 0:07:03Well that was...enlightening! Hee-hee!
0:07:03 > 0:07:06What have blockbuster movies and Technobytes got in common?
0:07:06 > 0:07:09They all have to end at some point,
0:07:09 > 0:07:13though this is definitely to be continued and not the end.
0:07:13 > 0:07:14See you next time!