What Augmented Reality Can Teach Our Kids
There are educational benefits to this screen time, scientists say.
Parents may have rejoiced last year when their kids left the couch to run around outside, hunting imaginary creatures. But the kids still clutched digital devices: They were using an augmented reality (AR) app, which layers computer-generated images over a user’s surroundings, to turn the real world into a Pokémon Go safari.
Its ability to engage kids has made AR a powerful tool for education. AR technology can let students experience climate change and witness historic events. It can even assist them with homework assignments.
Some scientists contend that screen time may rewire the developing brain, hinder cognitive abilities, and cause behavioral problems. But unlike other forms of digital media, “the primary activity in AR is interacting with the real world,” says Chris Dede, a professor in learning technologies at Harvard University.
