Q&A: Researchers aim to improve accessibility with augmented reality

Https://uw-s3-cdn.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/10/16101249/Updated-RASSAR-Video-With-Titles.mp4 Big Tech's race into augmented reality (AR) grows more competitive by the day. This month, Meta released the latest iteration of its headset, the Quest 3. Early next year, Apple plans to drop its first headset, the Vision Pro. The announcements for each platform emphasize games and entertainment that merge the virtual and physical worlds: a digital board game imposed on a coffee table, a movie screen projected above airplane seats. Some researchers, though, are more curious about other uses for AR. The University of Washington's Makeability Lab is applying these budding technologies to assist people with disabilities. This month, researchers from the lab will introduce multiple projects that deploy AR - through headsets and phone apps - to make the world more accessible.