How might AR technology fundamentally alter the balance between real-world and virtual attention allocation?

AR technology fundamentally alters the balance between real-world and virtual attention allocation by seamlessly integrating digital information and experiences into the physical world. This integration blurs the lines between what is real and what is digitally augmented, potentially leading to a significant shift in how individuals allocate their attention. Instead of switching between the physical world and separate digital devices, AR overlays digital content onto the real world, creating a unified experience. This means attention is divided between processing real-world stimuli and simultaneously interpreting and interacting with the digital augmentations. For instance, an AR navigation app displays directions directly on the road, requiring the user to attend to both the physical environment and the virtual guidance. This can result in a constant tension between the immediate demands of the real world, such as avoiding obstacles, and the allure of the augmented content. The ease with which AR can overlay persuasive or entertaining digital content onto the physical world raises concerns about the potential for over-stimulation and a decreased ability to focus on non-augmented aspects of reality. This continuous blending could ultimately lead to a redefinition of what we consider to be 'real' and a fundamental change in attentional priorities.