[Latest Technology] Exercise with Augmented Reality! AR Sports Roundup
AR is a technology that connects the real world with virtual space.
You’ve probably tried apps on your smartphone that use AR technology, right?
That surreal sight of something “being there” when it doesn’t actually exist feels so sci-fi and fun!
In this article, we’ve rounded up “AR sports” born from the latest technology.
From activities you can enjoy at specialized facilities to workouts you can do as long as you have a smartphone, there’s a lot to choose from.
We’ll also introduce a new way to watch sports using AR technology.
Be sure to read to the end!
- Fun Ball Sports: A Roundup of Ball-Based Play, Games, and Sports
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- Popular Extreme Sports
- [Simple Games] Recommended Indoor Recreational Activities for Adults
- [For Junior High Students] A Summary of Sports You Can Do in the Gym
- Sports that everyone can enjoy regardless of age. Including Yuru Sports.
- [For Kids] Let’s Play in English! A Collection of Fun Recreational Activities and Games
- [Sports] Play that gets you moving. A roundup of exercises perfect for adults.
- Get Active! Outdoor Play Ideas for Elementary School Kids
- [Easy Magic] Special Feature: Big Collection of Smartphone Magic Tricks
- [Showtime] Soccer skills that make you want to try them! [Techniques]
- Summary of smartphone app games popular with children
- [Rec] Challenge! A roundup of jump rope tricks and techniques
[Latest Tech] Work Out with Augmented Reality! AR Sports Roundup (1–10)
Watching soccer at home at the table
Do you know the device that projects a video called “soccer on your tabletop”? Using it, you can project a 3D soccer match onto your table at home.
You often see scenes in sci-fi movies where a hologram is displayed on a table, right? If you imagine that, you’ve got the idea.
Because it’s 3D, you can watch the moment of a goal from various angles.
It also seems like it could be useful for studying soccer movements.
HADO
When it comes to thrilling sports that are only possible with AR, HADO is the standout.
You often see scenes in anime and manga where characters fire energy blasts from their hands, right? With HADO, you can actually experience that.
In essence, it’s like dodgeball where players hit each other with energy shots.
It’s not just about hitting, though—there’s strategy too, like using shields to block incoming blasts.
There are four venues in Japan where you can play, so if you’re interested, be sure to check them out.
MORE ENJOY FENCING
“MORE ENJOY FENCING” is a video series that clearly showcases fencing movements with effects.
Many people have seen fencing before, but because the action is so fast, they don’t really understand what’s happening.
With “MORE ENJOY FENCING,” however, you can grasp the movements—and even the underlying tactics—at a glance.
Visually, it has the flashy appeal of a sci-fi movie, so even those who aren’t interested in fencing will find it captivating.
[Latest Tech] Exercise with Augmented Reality! AR Sports Roundup (11–20)
AR Yuru Sports
In recent years, we’ve had more opportunities to drink and hang out remotely.
That’s why I’d like to recommend AR Yuru Sports.
AR Yuru Sports is a set of six games you can play using online meeting tools like Zoom.
For example, in Eyebrow Lifting, a dumbbell appears on the screen and players raise it by moving their eyebrows up and down.
You compete by seeing how many times you can lift the dumbbell.
Since most AR Yuru Sports mainly involve moving your face, they’re easy to enjoy even in small spaces.
AR Air Hockey
When it comes to the most popular AR sport, AR air hockey is probably at the top.
In this game, you rally a puck projected onto the tabletop.
You use a dedicated remote to hit it.
The remote is designed like a flashlight and projects the tip of a striker onto the table.
When this striker touches the puck, you can hit it just like in real hockey.
There are various other types of AR air hockey as well, so be sure to check them out.
AR Soccer
Alongside baseball, soccer is also a popular sport.
And soccer has become an AR sport, too.
In AR soccer, you can enjoy a penalty shootout just like in the real world.
First, the player kicks a soccer ball toward a projected goal and goalkeeper.
Then AI reads the ball’s trajectory, and the ball flies into the screen.
Of course, not only the trajectory but also the power of your kick is reflected.
You can also watch your foot’s movement in slow motion at the moment of impact, making it ideal for soccer practice.
AR ski goggles
Do you know about goggles with AR features for snow sports? At first glance, they look like ordinary goggles, but they can display things like your friends’ locations and your run times using AR.
They also come with phone call and map functions linked to your smartphone.
Of course, you can operate them without taking off your gloves.
The price is about 160,000 yen, and it seems you can buy them from the online shop.
If you love snow sports, be sure to check them out.