How Apple just made AR go mainstream.

Everyone is talking about it lately.

Those in our industry are completely torn. AR is either the next big thing in technology, or just a gimmick that should go away. At this stage, it could be both.

Facebook are talking about it being central to their future. They have a problem though.

Apple just beat them to the punch. Apple have released AR to the majority of iPhone users, today. Now let's see if we'll use it.

For the few either without internet access or living under a rock last week - Apple had a small gathering in California and broadcast it to millions around the world. The gathering celebrated the launch of their next set of revolutionary (well, maybe just evolutionary) devices – the iPhone 8 and iPhone X.

Amongst all the new features – the one with the most potential is Augmented Reality (AR) technology which allows us to overlay digital things onto the real world, through our screen. The good news is; we don’t even have to wait for the new iPhones to arrive.

The AR technology was actually released within the iOS 11 software update which came out today (for all iPhone 6+ users). Although it will undoubtedly improve with the new phones released – this is a first-look for those starting to think about future application of AR.

So first things first. The main concern – will it be actually useful or just a gimmick?

Well, on launch day – the answer is a bit of both.

Below are a few of the AR applications I tried today in my apartment, and my early take on how brands could use this technology to further digitalise their industry sooner rather than later.

Home Renovation – anyone can now be a chic designer.

An exciting opportunity for anyone in the home decoration space – AR gives customers the opportunity to not only ‘try’ before they buy – but give inspiration to their new home ideas at the touch of a button. Check out my new AR Lamp in the lounge room. It looks real, almost.

Brands will move quickly on this type of application. It allows for a true path-to-purchase experience in an increasingly e-comm landscape. It also allows a customer to have access to new products before they hit the store - making sure the size, colour and shape fit your lounge room perfectly.

Health and Fitness – experts teaching in your lounge room.

Yes, that’s the soccer player Jerome Boateng (I had to Google that...) running around in my house. Gimmicky yes. But what would be actually useful is if Jerome could teach me how to play soccer. Maybe I could add an AR trainer into my room to assist...with something like for yoga. Hear me out!

I’m new to yoga, and my determination and effort is definitely there. Unfortunately, my form isn’t. Placing an AR Yoga Instructor in my lounge room would teach me the perfect form needed, away from the eyes of the classroom.

As we know, mobile apps are transforming the fitness industry. Everyone can be tracked – from your weight to the amount of running you do. AR would focus on perfecting a person's craft - from shooting a basketball, to even outside of sport like playing piano.

Education – now that’s a classroom that would be ‘interactive’.

To think of my science classes from yesteryear, much was reliant on a boring text-heavy book. Wouldn’t it have been more interactive and engaging to use AR technology? Like the brain placed on my table below – which I can then walk around and inspect different parts of the human body. An experience I'd actually remember.

All forms of education are ripe for disruption, and in an age of shorter attention spans AR would allow for the classroom to be as interactive and stimulating as possible.

Final Word:

It is estimated that there will be close to 1 billion active iPhone devices by end of next year. As a result, Apple have just put AR in the hands of all these customers. Good news for analysts - who predict the AR market to be close to $100 billion by 2021.

This is just the start of AR. Before long, we'll probably see this technology embedded into glasses, as Facebook, Apple and a few others like Magic Leap are rumored to be working on.

Until then, for those with an iPhone jump into the software update and off you go. For those others, the iPhone 8 comes out next month. Stay tuned.