English essay - AR reality

Augmented reality will change our perception of reality and our life. To what extent is a good thing ?

         If I were to throw it back to two years ago, where one game became a worldwide phenomenon every single person on this planet was playing, I would mention Pokémon Go and say that it is the most commonly known consumer use of the Augmented Reality kind of technology, but today far more sophisticated AR applications offer great promise for more. Thus, I wonder to what extent it can be good thing.  

AR is the ability to insert digital objects into a camera view of the real world, based on information about the scene that is within the camera’s view. It’s a very exciting new feature, a powerful  and a very persuasive one. But is it only our best friend ? I mean, AR technically collects information and data about us. Intimacy and private life no longer exist. It could help, advise and inform us on many things, for instance lead us to a place we’re looking for, but it also manipulates and tracks us. AR is just a potential new technology, therefore it is still a vulnerable one. Hacking and pirating it shouldn’t be too hard, this may lead to its misuse and could seriously endanger the end user. Moreover, it could invade someone’s private life, go beyond ethical barriers and attain one’s physical integrity. Also, these new technologies – if successful – will certainly be extremely expensive and not affordable to everyone, which raises the question of equity. Finally, don’t we have enough brain-washing advertisements and propaganda on our plates ? Do we need more of those ? I guess not.

        In a few words, I think the world is bound to evolve and I will never condemn technology as I am a daily user of it. It could be beneficial and helpful in many disciplines. But it also has its limits. Facing life’s obstacles helps us grow and mature; no one wants to be superman. And finally, if we know everything, where it the challenge and the fun of living ?

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