‘X-Ray Vision’ could be the next superpower you’ll get with augmented reality

X-ray vision might no longer be strictly for superheroes, thanks to a new application of familiar technology.

Augmented reality offers a layer of virtual content that usually goes above the picture of the world taken by our eyes, but MIT researchers are using AR to help us see beyond the barriers in a kind of “vision to X-rays”. I call X-AR.

X-AR is powered by a flexible antenna that adds a kind of “sixth sense” to the HoloLens, allowing it to locate specific objects that are outside the wearer’s line of sight, as long as they are marked with widely used element known. as a radio frequency identification tag and within 15 feet.

The prototype of this system is designed as an add-on to Microsoft’s HoloLens, but researchers say it could be applied to other augmented reality headsets down the line.

The research team developed their own HoloLens app that directs the wearer to the desired object and notifies them whether or not the correct object has been picked up using HoloLens’ built-in hand tracking features.

Potential applications for this technology today include use in warehouses, shipping, retail and other places where RFID tags are commonly used. However, the researchers say the potential applications for this kind of technology go much further, including determining if food is safe to eat and helping search and rescue efforts in disasters.

To see X-AR in action and see our interview with members of the research team that created it, watch the video in this article.