Sony's virtual Air Hockey game is the future of augmented reality

Sony seems to have figured out a way to experience augmented reality in a better way without needing to wear goggles or smart glasses. Sony recently showed off a dozen of interactive demos including a new augmented reality air hockey concept at SXSW, an annual Austin-based tech and culture event.

Sony’s latest invention dubbed A(i)R Hockey is a system that combines light projection tech and haptic sensors, bringing the air hockey game to the whole new level. This new game supports up to four players at a time and can track the puck and paddles on the table.

The game kick-starts with the same old way where players bat around the air hockey puck into each other's goals. It also projects colours onto each shell and creates virtual pucks. Each paddle is equipped with haptic sensors that buzz each time when touched a virtual puck. Moreover, the table also makes use of two of Sony IMX382 visual sensors which can detect and track objects at 1,000 frames per second.

Sadly, this is just a concept that the company showcased at its Wow Studio at SXSW. As of now, Sony has not revealed whether this new game will make its way out of labs and see the light of the day.