Augmented reality has become part of our daily life and its application in various industries is going stronger. It is predominantly used in various apps and for teaching purposes where it crosses with translation. Any content developer who wants to broaden their market needs translation services of different types. As augmented reality is quite specific, so is the translation needed for it. Quite often it is a combination of software localization and educational material translation in order to properly render and display the content in the target language/s. this type of translation is quite complex and therefore the service is offered only by experienced professionals who have expertise in the given field where augmented reality has been used.
Augmented reality (AR) should not be mistaken for virtual reality (VR). While the latter creates a completely artificial reality, AR uses the existing environment and applies different objects. That is one of the reasons why augmented reality is so popular. It allows the user to create new situations using the actual background where things are going to happen.
Augmented reality gains popularity every year and its users are multiplying by the day. According to Statista global augmented reality, users will rise by 2 million over less than a decade. The users in 2015 were 200 million, while in 2023 their estimated value is expected to be 2.4 billion. Mobile augmented reality users in 2021 are expected to reach 1.96 billion. 85 million of them will be located in the United States alone.
With so many users, it is fair to conclude that augmented reality has many applications. Various industries avail of AR in order to create a better experience for their customers. In the car industry, Hyundai uses virtual guides to help owners properly maintain their vehicles. Ikea uses AR to let its customers see how a certain piece of furniture will match their current room and design. Users can also “try on” shoes, clothes, makeup, or hair and nail color prior to choosing what to buy. Of course, numerous video games use AR to provide a more realistic experience to gamers. Last but not least, in the field of education, AR helps learners acquire new practical skills and knowledge in a much safer environment.
The idea to include augmented reality in education has been popularized as an eLearning trend in 2019. Its importance grows and is widely used in different spheres of education – from online learning to traditional classroom education. Augmented reality is also very popular for creating custom learning modules and is often used by companies. AR can be used in company safety training seminars to show what kind of damage can be caused to the actual place by dangerous events such as floods, earthquakes, and fires.
Augmented reality is suitable for a great variety of situations and can be applied to learners of any age. It makes the education process more engaging, thrilling, and safe at the same time. Chemical experiments at schools, for example, can be done by students using AR without any danger of explosions. As part of the education process, augmented reality can be combined with other learning solutions such as microlearning or gamification to create the best strategy for your business learning or to better cover the educational needs of your online learners.
When augmented reality is used for educational purposes, it must often be translated into one or more foreign languages. As this service is quite specific, make sure that you have the right professionals at your side – either a freelance translator with experience in the field or a language service provider who can offer a complete set of services that meet your needs.
The first principle that applies to translating content with augmented reality elements is to be familiar with augmented reality itself. It should not be a new notion for you as that might hinder the whole process. The next step is to be an experienced translator who can offer the necessary language combination to the customer.
As with all content that needs translation, augmented reality elements should be translated by experts in the field and not by people who are simply speaking the target language. That excludes any employees, partners, or relatives. Note that content with AR elements used in the field of education will have to combine several translation services such as software localization and software translation services along with educational material translation. The general tips on translating educational material can help but still, the translator needs to be a subject-matter expert in the specific sphere of the course to provide a quality end product. A software engineer will also be needed for the software translation and localization to guarantee it is properly displayed on any device.
While translation can be affordable, keep in mind that these are highly specialized services that will have a specific price. Envisage that in your budget and prepare a possible scenario for your overall translation project.