What is Augmented Reality?
It's like having a coffee with the past and the future at the same time.

In 1968, computer scientist Ivan Sutherland, together with Bob Sproull, developed the first AR headset, called “The Sword of Damocles.” This device hung from the ceiling and projected basic graphics that immersed the user in a rudimentary virtual environment, ahead of its time.

It was in 1990 that Tom Caudell, an engineer at Boeing, coined the term Augmented Reality. He devised a system to show workers diagrams superimposed on the real environment, making their work easier and planting the seed of what we know today.

In 1992, Louis Rosenberg created Virtual Fixtures, an AR system that improved worker accuracy and efficiency through overlaid graphics. In 1998, the NFL displayed the “yellow line” on football broadcasts, allowing viewers to better visualize plays. It was the first time the public experienced the practical benefits of AR.

With the advent of smartphones and advanced cameras, AR became more accessible. In 2009, the Wikitude app allowed users to receive real-time information by pointing their phones at a monument. But the big boom came in 2016, with Pokémon GO, which brought AR into the pockets of millions of people, who now walked around the city looking for virtual creatures.

AR is currently used in a variety of industries such as education, tourism, medicine and entertainment. Companies such as Apple, Google and Microsoft have developed platforms that allow developers to create increasingly surprising experiences. At Histary, we are inspired by these advances to create an experience that mixes history, technology and comedy. Here we don't just tell you the story, but you live it with our Augmented Reality.

Imagine walking through Barcelona's Gothic Quarter and having your smartphone show you what those streets looked like centuries ago. That's Augmented Reality, a technology that fuses the real with the digital, adding virtual layers to create a unique interactive experience. With AR, you can see historical figures, architectural reconstructions and objects from the past come to life in front of you.

At Histary, we integrate Augmented Reality into our guided tours so that, through our app, you can visualize in real time what historical sites were like. It's like having a magical window into the past without leaving the present. You don't need a steam engine, just a smartphone and our app!