Augmenting the Future: Microsoft Eyes AR Technology for Find Objects

Augmented Reality (AR), the techno-wizardry that combines virtual reality with the real world, made waves in 2016, nearly overshadowing its close cousin, Virtual Reality (VR). Remember the global phenomenon known as Pokémon Go? This game, which took the world by storm in 2020, was built solely on AR technology, turning our seemingly ordinary surroundings into a tech-based fantasy world.

AR on its own is fascinating. However, Microsoft is now taking it a step further, eyeing AR as more than just a mechanism for gaming and entertainment. Their vision is to harness the power of AR for practical applications such as locating small objects like car keys. According to a recent patent application published by Microsoft, the tech giant sees AR as the future of object tracking.

“A mobile computing device includes a sensor subsystem with an image sensor, a display subsystem, and a logic subsystem configured to execute instructions. The device can receive image data, detect user interactions with physical objects, recognize patterns based on these interactions, and generate an alert. This alert can inform the user of the recent location of objects at a later time corresponding to the interactions,” read the patent application.

The principle is simple, yet effective: whenever an object is moved, an AR-enabled device registers the new location. This information is then retrievable to the user at any later point in time. For a universe of users interacting, the patent explains that object tracking data could be shared between devices. This way, users can stay updated about any changes made to the tracked objects. To put it simply, say goodbye to the frantic searching for misplaced car keys or television remote!

This revolutionary application of AR, as envisioned by Microsoft, might still be a few years down the line. The company is currently focused on the development of its AR headset, Hololens, which is still in its early stages. It’s important to note that technology companies often file patents for future ideas, many of which never come into fruition. These patents serve primarily as a safeguard for evolutionary ideas.

Despite this, the patent — first filed in September 2016 — provides an intriguing look into the possible future of AR. It gives us a glimpse of Microsoft’s vision, a leader in this field, and the potential practical use cases that we may see in the coming years. Only time will tell if this AR-driven future will come into reality, but one thing is for sure: Microsoft is paving the way for a future where technology seamlessly blends into our everyday lives.

This article was updated in 2025 to reflect modern realities.