The Augmented Reality (AR) technology has now been around for quite a while. So if you’re thinking that it’s a new technology, you need to rethink. It started with Ivan Sutherland, the computer scientist and Internet pioneer proposing the “ultimate display” around the late 1960’s which was considered to be the first Virtual Reality (VR) head-mounted display (HMD) system. Since the weight of HMD was too much, Sutherland had to attach a mechanical arm from the lab’s ceiling to track the head movements. Thus, the work on integrating and creating a single HMD system began. This integrated system is often viewed as a predecessor to the AR technology.
Augmented Reality superimposes the information or computer-generated images in real-time in the surroundings or in the field of view of the user, thus providing them with an integrated view. So the user can perceive these augmented objects as a part of the real environment and the end result is an enhanced & interactive experience of the real world environment.
The AR technology is constantly evolving. Companies can optimally make use of this trending technology to stay competitive in the industry. The top AR app development companies listed at GoodFirms strongly believe that this technology will be the game changer and a trendsetter in the coming years. Augmented Reality will help businesses provide innovative and personalized solutions to their customers. As per a survey by Statista, in 2018 AR devices are projected to generate 54 billion U.S. dollars in revenue which are projected to rise to 118 billion U.S. dollars by 2020.
With the advent of Augmented Reality, objects like Head Mounted Displays (HMD’s) & Heads-Up Displays (HUD’s) are becoming increasingly popular in various fields and industries. The importance of AR is increasing day by day. Various businesses have started using Augmented Reality to provide personalized & composite experience to their customers. Various applications have been developed by businesses to help provide resolutions to customers or to enhance the workflows in business.
Let’s explore some of the industries that Augmented Reality is disrupting:
- Gaming
When the gaming visuals and audio content is integrated real-time into the user’s environment, it becomes AR gaming. Since AR gaming uses the existing environment of the user, there is no need to create a separate environment which is required in Virtual Reality. In such an environment, the objects are superimposed into the existing environment of the user. Pokémon Go was a hit gaming app and it proved to be a catalyst and trendsetter for AR gaming apps. AR helps in creating a composite view for the user by combining the real world and virtual computer images for the user.
- Manufacturing
Augmented Reality is used in various manufacturing industries as well as for support & maintenance. There are various industries that assemble complex parts and components to make a machine. Now, in such industries, precision and time matter the most. Hence, Augmented Reality helps the workers on these assembly lines to view the parts and components and help assemble the machines with precision and quickly.
Complex Assemblies
AR is already being used in various manufacturing industries. Various industries which require complex and accurate assemblies of various parts are using AR in form of HMD or HUD and machines that can assist with complex assemblies of parts. Industries manufacturing smartphones, cars, jet engines etc. are using AR at its full strength to avoid errors and gain precision all the while consuming less time in these processes.
Maintenance
Maintenance of machines & equipment used in the manufacturing industry is another important aspect where Augmented Reality is being used. Since manual maintenance is tedious, tiring and time-consuming for the workers, Augmented Reality helps the workers in viewing the current status of the machine at a glance. Mitsubishi Electric’s team is developing an Augmented Reality based application based on a 3D model which helps the user to confirm the order for inspection with AR display and enter the results of inspection with their voice instead of entering it manually.
ThyssenKrupp, a leading elevator manufacturer also announced that Microsoft’s Hololens technology will be used by their service technicians to detect problems in an elevator ahead of their jobs and also have a remote, hands-free access to technical information on-site. This is how AR technology is gradually increasing its hole among various industries, thus benefitting these industries in many ways.
- Education
In the times of social media and a lot of distractions, it becomes very easy for students to lose focus and concentrate on all the things other than their books. Thus, it is vital that schools, colleges offer students something to focus on. This is being done with the help of Augmented Reality apps. AR helps in the creation of course materials and virtual portals which offer engaging course material for students which helps them focus on their studies. Teachers can also engage students in their classes with the help of AR by creating and displaying 3D models in front of their students and keep them engrossed in studies while students can also have fun viewing the 3D models, be creative and interact with each other in the class.
Moreover, combining AR & smartphones for education has a lot of potentials. AR can help in explaining difficult and abstract or complex concepts to the students with the help of 3D models. This will help visual learners easily grasp the complex concepts and topics and make their lives easier.
- Automotives
Various top automotive brands like BMW, Volvo, Lexus etc. are soon going to deploy Augmented Reality for two-wheelers and cars. HUD’s or HMD’s will be deployed which will enable the drivers to know about the roads ahead and what actions do they need to take. Smart windshields with AR technology and having enhanced features will also be arriving soon which will help eliminate blind spots and provide vital information to drivers about the shortest possible route and traffic information, turning the driver’s journey into a pleasant one.
- Healthcare
With the introduction of Google class in the AR market, various hospitals in the healthcare sector have started using it during operating the patients. For e.g., doctors use Google Glass fitted with AR technology to see the clogged veins. This helps them to know where exactly have the veins clogged and helps them remove the blockages. Various universities are also using Microsoft HoloLens to peel back virtual tissues on digital cadavers and display it to their students as to how it is done. The healthcare industry is one which requires doctors to make various life-changing important decisions. Hence, they are trying various technologies like HMD’s, HUD’s and other wearable objects to enhance their decision-making capabilities during the times of stress, along with using robots for surgeries.
- FMCG & Retail stores
Various retailers and wholesalers in the FMCG industry have introduced Augmented Reality apps that will provide real-time information to their customers about products as well as help them find food as per their dietary needs. For producers and manufacturers, AR apps will help increase the promotional opportunities thus resulting in an increase in customers, sales and revenue. Retailers are introducing various AR apps that can provide product information, promotions, health guidelines, dietary information, serving suggestions or preparation methods, other nearby locations where similar products are available etc. This will also help provide a personalized customer experience to the customers, thus increasing customer loyalty & brand’s visibility.
- Interior design and Home Buying
Various object placement apps and apps that help in measuring the surfaces have been introduced by big brands like IKEA, Wal-Mart etc. The customers can download these apps use them along with the inbuilt brochures. With the help of such apps, customers can measure the surface of their home or office and also place an object to see if the object fits well in that area. If the customers like the object and its placement, they can then go and buy the furniture or items they checked with the help of the AR app. This way customers can avoid the hassle of actually buying the product, placing it and then returning it if the piece of furniture doesn’t fit in the desired area.
Whereas in home buying, instead of stagers renting the furniture and making the house look good, the app would now allow the prospective buyer to virtually place the objects of their choice and help them decide whether to buy the house or not.
- Fashion & Beauty Industry
With the placement of AR mirrors or virtual fitting rooms in various branded stores, it has now become easy for customers to virtually try the clothes and see how they look before they actually shop for these clothes. With the help of AR mirrors, customers just need to enter their details viz., the measurements or size of the dress they wear and their photograph. Thereafter, they can virtually try the dresses of their choice and decide which ones to buy. This resolves the problem of a “good fit” while buying online. For cosmetic and accessory companies, they can provide personalization to customers with the help of AR apps. Enhanced AR sampling will help customers buy beauty products and accessories without actually applying them or trying them on. With such AR apps, the customer can know if an accessory will suit them or not and if a foundation or a lipstick looks good on them or not.
CONCLUSION
To round up on what we’ve written, we can conclude that the importance of Augmented Reality is increasing and there will be a time when AR technology will be used in the daily lives of human beings. If the technological barriers are removed (e.g. in emerging countries, the availability of internet is not as good as the developed countries), and if people, in general, are made aware about such a technology along with increasing the data security and reducing privacy issues, the rise in usage of AR technology will be manifold. Thus, resulting in precision, accuracy, and decrease in time taken to complete a task as compared to the time taken currently to complete a similar task.
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