We are well on our way to a future of technology convergence where universal devices can do pretty much whatever we need them to. We already have camera phones that play video, read ebooks, and access GPS maps with the ability to customize features even further via thousands of app installs. What’s the next big thing? Augmented Reality.

Augmented reality (AR) is the viewing a modified version of the physical real-world environment in real-time. Examples of this effect can already been seen in many live sports broadcasts, such as this virtual billboard and more impressively these ads and logos placed to appear on the grass field. But those AR changes are done on a video feed from a remote location, not your personal world.

The current stage of augmented reality tech involves view overlays that you carry with you. Most portable AR devices don’t exist as a new standalone gadget; they are integrated with the same all-in-one portables we are using now. There are currently two ways to do the AR view, video and transparency, but both rely on a camera to inform the software of the environment you’re viewing. In this dinosaur example you can see the phone’s camera viewing a live feed of the Jurassic Park logo on the table, and on the phone’s screen a moving 3D dinosaur is added to the view. From a marketing standpoint, the ability to place 3D objects in someone’s view to interact with them is pretty powerful. Remember the virtual Jaws in Back to the Future II?

Transparent devices are starting to catch on now, and I believe that is the real direction we’ll see AR take. Check out this mobile search concept that is almost completely transparent. Users need information, and the larger the information space is the more value a device will provide. Transparent devices are not a new idea, just take a look at this iPhone marketing concept photo from two years ago. To quote one of the comments: “That is the sexist piece of technology I have seen in a long time.” It’s a great look because you’re only seeing the data, not the device.

You can try out augmented reality with your smartphone right now. There are many AR apps already available with more popping up all the time. What’s coming next is even more exciting with AR that modifies your view and information access to a much more extreme level. Watch this TED talk that demonstrates augmented-reality mapping technology under development at Microsoft. Imagine having that kind of information and alterable view that you can carry with you all the time. The Nokia Morph concept also nicely illustrates a summary of device features that will interact fully with our environment to enhance the information we receive.

And finally the next step in AR: displays that we don’t even have to carry. Immersive augmented reality won’t be achieved until the virtual changes are seamlessly applied through glasses and even contacts. Various forms of AR glasses have been developed and are already available, if expensive. Contact lens versions remain in development stages, but they are coming too, and the potential changes augmented reality like that will make are incredible.