Smart Interaction: Merging Augmented Reality and Internet of Things for Seamless Device Control

The combination of Augmented Reality (AR) and Internet of Things (IoT), often referred to as AR + IoT, offers exciting possibilities for future research and development. IoT serves as a platform for communication and remote control of connected devices, while AR provides an intuitive interface for visualizing and managing these devices through enhanced, information-rich displays. This research aims to develop an interactive and accessible home automation system that integrates IoT and AR technologies, enabling seamless remote control of electrical devices. Utilizing an ESP32/NodeMCU board interfaced with the Blynk IoT platform, the system supports device management through a mobile application and an AR interface designed in Unity. The AR interface facilitates intuitive interactions via URL-based signals, which are transmitted to the IoT hardware for execution. This dual-control mechanism enhances user flexibility and convenience, making smart home automation more accessible to users with varying technical expertise. The proposed system not only improves user interaction and control efficiency but also demonstrates the potential of AR in augmenting IoT applications, bridging the gap between physical and virtual control environments. Future enhancements could include advanced AR features, voice control, and cloud-based analytics to further optimize system performance and scalability.