ZenFone AR - Google Tango explained

Google Tango, or Project Tango as it was known during development, is an augmented reality computing platform, developed and authored by Google. It allows user experiences that include indoor navigation, 3D mapping, physical space measurement, environmental recognition, augmented reality, and windows into a virtual world.

What is augmented reality (AR)?
Augmented reality is a live view of the real world, supplemented by computer-generated elements such as images, sound, video, 3D graphics, etc. Basically, AR lets you see the world through an enhanced perspective. With the help of advanced AR technology, the information about the surrounding real world of the user becomes interactive and digitally manipulable. Information about the environment and its objects is overlaid on the real world.

Google Tango @ Google I/O 2017

Google Tango + ZenFone AR
Google Tango on the ZenFone AR makes use of more than just your gyroscope. It uses a whopping 3 cameras for an enhanced and seamless augmented reality experience. ASUS calls this the TriCam System.

First, there's the 23MP main rear camera which displays your surroundings on the screen. Then there's the motion tracking camera that enables the ZenFone AR to properly track objects in space when you move the phone around, and the depth sensing camera powered by an IR projector that enables the device to properly measure distance between the phone and real-life objects.

ZenFone AR demo @ CES 2017

Uses for AR
Despite AR being a new technology for most of us, it has actually been integrated into our daily lives without us noticing. First used for military, industrial, and medical applications, by 2012 its use expanded into entertainment and other commercial industries. AR has provided an interactive platform that has aided architects, archeologists, industrial designers, live events (sports and news telecasts), medical practitioners, the military, navigation, and of course, video games.

Pokemon GO launch video

Augmented reality hit the mainstream with last year's runaway hit game Pokemon GO. It involves catching Pokemon "in real life", by finding and catching them using your phone. While this only made use of your phone's camera and a gyroscope, it gave everyone a taste of what experiences could be possible with augmented reality.

Given that Pokemon GO made use of limited hardware features, just imagine what else can be brought to life using Google Tango and ASUS TriCam.

Great specs...Im excited to see the actual ZenFone AR unit soon.

Have recommended this to my mobile gamer officemate.  Hope the price is something considerably worth it for a switch.