The press likes to cover Augmented Reality demonstrations that look like science fiction, with high-end registered graphics that are a video gamer's fantasy. Yet many miss the greater social impact AR is having using much simpler interfaces. AR has already saved at least one person's life in the emergency room because the doctor could access the patient's records quickly. AR can also coordinate medical teams so that they act more efficiently and safely. AR is improving efficiency in warehouses, reducing errors in assembly, helping remote teams operate effectively, and allowing people with disabilities to interact more fully in society. AR is even becoming mainstream and disappearing into consumer products where the user does not even think about the interaction being augmented.  For example, some recent automobiles have up to five AR displays, yet the user rarely considers that they are using augmented reality technology. Along these lines, we will examine how AR is affecting society already and make the case that "magical moments" are less important than making intuitive interactions that fit into everyday lives.        

Thad Starner is a Professor of Computing at Georgia Tech and was a Technical Lead on Google Glass, currently being sold in its third incarnation. In 1990, Starner coined the term "augmented reality" to describe the types of interfaces he envisioned for the future.  Besides Glass, Thad has been creating a glove that helps stroke survivors recover tone, sensation, and dexterity in their hands; wearable computers to help working dogs communicate with their handlers; and wearables for marine mammalogists to conduct two-way communication research with wild dolphins. Thad has produced over 500 papers and presentations with over 300 co-authors and has 98 issued United States utility patents. He was elected to the CHI Academy in 2017.