Reality vs. Fake Reality

So my business partner Eric Aune and I work very hard every day to bring you the latest industry news, features, resources, videos, blogs, etc. All things plumbing, heating and mechanical. That’s who were are — a website that is not affiliated with any other outlet. We saw a need for a site where contractors can get up-to-date information — today, as a matter of fact. Why wait a month to read about something that happens today? We started this site grassroots style and we hope that you find it informative, and you will come back often. The site does change daily.

So my point: Reality vs. fake reality. Smoke and mirrors, really. So fake that let’s call it really cool term, something like, hmmm, augmented reality. Augmented reality (AR), as defined by the all-knowing wikipedia, is a live, direct or indirect, view of a physical, real-world environment whose elements are augmented by computer-generated sensory input such as sound, video, graphics or GPS data. Cool for those who want to escape reality, I guess.

Now this AR technology is hitting our trade with opportunities to “augment” the way we read trade magazines, for example. So as I understand it, you can actually download the AR app and use it scan pages to have info, videos pop up on your phone or smart device. So let me get this straight: so now I have to have my smart phone and the magazine in hand to use this technology? Is this another Band-Aid® for print. Honestly, it seems like everything “innovative” coming from print media points to digital outlets — see QR codes, which is so 2010, by the way.

Is something that contractors will take the time to do? Trade magazines are viable outlet in our industry, I am not disputing that at all. Just stick to what you do best and don’t try to “augment” my reality with smoke and mirrors.

Funny thing happened at AHR. The Hub visited with and exhibitor that was showing us the augmented reality feature for their product from a smart phone where literature was scanned and a video popped up, to which I said why not just put the video on our site, our yours? I was then told, “Well, sometimes I don’t have my laptop or iPad with me and all I have is my phone.” To which I responded, “Precisely.” The last time I checked, 99.7% of phones used today in working society have Internet capability. So what’s with the added hassle? Why not just keep it real and go to an actual website and remove the middle-man BS.

Anywhoo, I prefer to live my life in the real world.