What’s Next for Augmented Reality?

Augmented reality (AR) is the integration of digital information with the user’s environment in real time. It is more advanced than virtual reality (VR) as users experience a real-world environment with ‘overlaid’ information.

The environment created by VR is completely artificial. Augmented reality blurs the line between reality and a digital world by superimposing computer-generated images and sound on the user’s view of their real environment.

Currently, AR is mostly used in three key areas:

• Gaming
• Product visualisation (including design, education and manufacturing)
• Marketing

AR is set to impact our daily lives. In just ten years, AR glasses are predicted to be sleeker and more affordable while containing more power and capability than our smartphones.(Ciklum) This potential informs the forecast growth in market value of AR and VR … from £24 billion in 2022 to a massive £410 billion in 2031. (Skyquest)

Four Trends for Augmented Reality

1. The Impact of 5G

The speed of experience offered by 5G enables wider real-time applications of AR in everyday business and training scenarios. For example, using AR via 5G offers huge potential for customer support, product demonstrations and in-person instruction.

Importantly, users want mobility. So far, AR headsets have been limited to use in a single location, such as home, office or showroom. The use of 5G with advances in AR equipment will provide the mobility option users want, increasing usage. 75% of consumers expect to be able to use AR or MR devices on-the-go in the next five years. They would pay an average premium of 20% for devices that could be used outside of the home. (Ericsson).

2. Smartphones and AR

People in the UK spend five hours and six minutes on their phones every day. (Opal) While smartphones offer limited potential for AR, it is likely these devices will offer most users their first experience of AR. Technology company Ericsson predicts the use of companion AR glasses tethered to phones as an intermediary solution, stating: ‘6 in 10 [people] are willing to tether AR glasses to their smartphones in order to elevate AR experiences. Reflecting this, the number of consumers combining smartphones and AR devices is expected to double within the next five years.’

3. Blending AR with Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Progress in AI technology has improved the rendering, tracking and processing within AR technology. This has transformed the quality of AR user experiences with improved realism of 3D characters and environments. The advanced interactivity achieved by harnessing the latest AI technology offers huge potential for gaming and education scenarios. Medical students can practise procedures and learn from immersive training experiences, for example.

4. AR Avatars

Avatars continue to bring physical and digital worlds together. They are used as virtual assistants offering information and customer service. Most commonly, AR avatars help gaming and social media users to identify and interact with each other on their chosen platforms.

For many businesses, AR is a development to watch with interest as it emerges as an everyday opportunity. There are, however, so many other ways in which technology can streamline and speed up business processes, boosting efficiency and user experience. Explore the potential. Talk to the team at EMH Technology.