Augmented Reality

The pace of technological development can be head?spinning, leaving the average person – or company – struggling to keep up. Just as we’re getting used the capabilities of one new technology, another one comes up, rendering it obsolete. Well, maybe not obsolete, but certainly stale. Case in point: virtual reality and augmented reality. I should clarify – neither of those two technologies are exactly new. They’ve been around for years in some form or another but they’ve only recently taken off, and this is what is new; the extent to which they have become so mainstream as to be almost commonplace.

Not so long ago, virtual reality was being touted as the peak of immersive technology. Today, another level of that immersive experience exists in the form of augmented reality (AR). Through AR, users don’t just get immersed in a virtual, computer?generated world, they interact with the real world with a virtual dimension. To fully understand the capabilities of augmented reality, it is best to differentiate it from virtual reality.

Difference between Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality

While the two may sound alike in some ways, they are very different experiences and technologies. Virtual reality completely immerses users in a completely virtual, computer?generated environment without sensory knowledge of the world around them. In other words, it detaches the user from reality. Users enjoy this enhanced VR environment through the use of VR headsets connected to a computer (Oculus Rift) or a gaming console like PlayStation VR. Standalone devices like those from Lenovo or Google also exist. Most standalone VR headsets work in combination with smartphones and cellphone makers like Samsung also provide their own VR Gear.

Augmented reality, on the other hand, overlays computer-generated 3D images on the real world to create a sense that those objects or images are in front of you, requiring you to be aware of your surroundings. Users see and interact with the real world to which digital content has been added. The most easily relatable example is Pokémon Go the AR game that had people all over the world searching for small virtual creatures with their smartphones. AR, unlike VR does not require bulky gear or headsets.

Uses of Augmented Reality

When Apple announced the ARKit tool, excitement around the world, especially among tech watchers, gamers and futurists went into overdrive. Apple’s ARKit, they promised, would change the world with what they predicted would be advanced AR capabilities in Apple’s next generation of products.

The excitement is understandable. Far from merely adding another level to gaming, AR has some very important real-world capabilities and uses. Take healthcare for example. AR has the ability to revolutionize that sector, from the way surgeries are conducted to the ability to quickly locate life?saving devices like defibrillators or helping nurses to locate veins. In short, AR can quickly present crucial pieces of information that could save lives.

Then take the real estate industry. Whereas developers and estate agents are already using little 3D models to show property to prospective buyers and investors, AR offers the distinct advantage of interactivity. Developers can showcase projects digitally, using nothing but a cellphone, thus doing away with the bulky headsets that VR requires.

Everyday life, education and even travelling can be enriched through AR, as people access real-time information of historical places and things of interest just by pointing their camera to subjects.

With these capabilities, it is hardly surprising that the demand for AR devices is growing in various sectors, including healthcare, retail and e-commerce. With interest and demand comes an ever-increasing market; it is estimated that the AR market will grow from USD 11.14 Billion in 2018 to USD 60.55 Billion by 2023. For businesses looking to grow and be innovative, it is important that they begin to assess if and how they can integrate AR into their business models.

Thanks for reading. Dirk Wasserthal - The Alchemist

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