Concerns for Prevalent AR

As the industry demonstrates its investment in augmented reality as the future of consumer computer interface products, we must consider the repercussions of pervasive AR systems. With their always-on camera systems and user location tracking, augmented reality products present serious privacy concerns for both their users and everyone in their vicinity. They also bring, with the promise of a utopian future of seamless computer interaction throughout the waking hours, the possibility of dystopian nightmare of corporate excess, advertising overreach, and nightmarish consumer experiences. The latter is captured beautifully in the embedded video by artist Keiichi Matsuda.

Keiichi Matsuda's provocative vision of the near future of everyday consumer augmented reality draws heavily from sci-fi visions and speculative fiction.