The hype surrounding (AR) technology is often dwarfed by coverage of 3D television,? but that may change once both are put into practice on a broad scale. AR could prove to change lives more profoundly, not only by or inviting , but also by providing information about anything or anyone at which you point your device.

The grabbed headlines in Japan last year, and several new Japanese applications may indicate what to expect in the coming decade. The , and the is now being tested in Shibuya, allowing iPhone users to get real-time information on shopping and entertainment options in the buildings that users pass by.

AR technology has significant potential in retail and the creative industries. For example, the Mitsuo Aida Museum now has . The ?800 price tag may sound steep for an iPhone application, but with it you get the guide, maps and free admission to the exhibit. This could easily cross over to galleries (and gallery districts) or even to shopping centers, where each store announces its bargains to those who point AR-equipped devices in their direction.

In another development, Japanese advertising giant, newspaper for an application that allows you to point your phone at ads in its pages and . What makes this unique is that it doesn¡¯t require a , those grid-like squares that are slowly replacing the conventional barcodes.

Not that there¡¯s anything wrong with QR codes. On the contrary, their ubiquity in Japan has brought about some creative applications. , and their minimalist, black & white design can often be than garish neon and ¡°SALE!¡± signs. I¡¯m all for QR codes becoming the norm, but once this process is complete and the old bar codes disappear, what will we ?