The rise of augmented reality has found a new accelerator, thanks to investors' growing interest, a broader consumer base, and unprecedented events brought about by the pandemic. As we drive further into a digitally and virtually simulated environment, the commercial and personal use of this immersive technology is also deepening.?
This blog focuses on the top 4 AR trends of 2021 that are here to make a permanent mark in the technology's journey. Read on to know more.
- The Mobile-AR: Tech giants from Apple to Google have contributed significantly to the rise of this trend. Open source augmented reality tools that can be easily accessed on handheld devices are making developers' transition into the AR market considerably smoother. For instance, the introduction of ARKit 4 by Apple and ARCore by Google led to a notable increase in AR users. To think that smartphones, which were once only a means to connect with people, have now become an incendiary in the boom of augmented reality technologies.?
- AR-driven events: Showcasing the wide range of capabilities of augmented reality and its subsequent benefits, AR-powered events are now picking pace. From career fairs to medical exhibitions (like the Belarusa Medica 2021), the implementation of augmented reality at these events can help guests, visitors, and contemporaries experience the technology in a familiar setting. One of the most popular tools instrumental in these events is the WebAR, compatible with over 3.04 billion devices without any application installment. The ease of use and accessibility has contributed to WebAR's popularity as an efficient marketing tool.?
- Augmented Reality in Sports: The sports arena, whether for an athlete or a sports fan, saw an unprecedented spiral, especially in the era of COVID-19. Integration of AR technology in sports has opened up several avenues for entertainment as well as training. Viewers can now access enhanced experiences just by scanning a QR code in the comfort of their homes. Concepts of sports training have also made it to the front page, allowing athletes to access a competitive environment for training purposes through their smartphones.?
- The Education Revolution: The education system worldwide saw a massive roadblock with the pandemic's arrival. Online education became an inevitable solution; however, it lacked the luster of human interaction and practical education. Augmented reality created a much-needed buzz in the education industry, allowing the experience of e-learning to be elevated. It helped improve the quality of teaching and offered a much more effective medium for students to learn and focus. Saying that augmented reality has changed how education was perceived is an understatement. The transformation from traditional, monotonous online classes to an interactive model has been nothing short of phenomenal.
While the gaming industry has always been one of the primary drivers of AR implementation, the scope of immersive technologies has widened considerably in the past decade. Organizations are gradually but indeed shifting their focus on tapping into the potential of AR and VR. The future of augmented reality is expected to see a broader scope of integration with various industries, further deepening the roots of immersive technologies in daily life.
