Scientists at the University of Glasgow are embarking on a study to measure the impact of augmented reality (AR) on society.
The study announced on 4 February will explore how AR can bring about social good in society and the potential risks posed by the technology to help society prepare ahead to handle the challenges while maximizing the benefits.
Weighing benefits and potential costs
Augmented reality is a technology that is widely adopted in different areas of human endeavor, including entertainment, healthcare, and education such as Meta’s deployment in European universities.
In the near future, the technology which facilitates digital displays onto real-life scenes through computer screens or via headsets, is expected to become as ubiquitous as smartphones.
However, the impact that future generations of the technology can have on society is currently unknown.
This study funded by the European Research Council will investigate how a future ‘augmented society’ might provide people with new opportunities, as well as subject them to new potential for harm.
A team of three scientists from the University of Glasgow School of Computing Science led by Dr. Mark McGill will carry out the study.
Potential social good to be investigated include augmenting users’ intelligence, and enhanced self-expression which the researchers suggest could benefit people with disabilities.
Potential risks to be investigated include potential for devices to infringe on privacy, amplifying the spread of online misinformation, and the loss of some aspects of reality by users of the technology.
Commenting on the proposed study, Dr McGill said:
“Augmented reality has huge potential to reshape the way we experience the world, which makes it a powerful potential agent for social change. Just how positive or negative those changes will be is something that we need to think very carefully about now, before AR technology outpaces society’s ability to adapt and legislate appropriately.”
McGill further stressed the need to be aware of the potential harm that AR may cause and be prepared to legislate and prepare ahead instead of reacting to the challenges after they show up in the future.
The study will provide a comprehensive map of the benefits and harms of AR to help governments, lawmakers, tech companies and other decision makers unlock the benefits of AR while minimizing the risks.
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