Augmented reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) bridge the digital and physical worlds by allowing visual content to be seen in a similar way as in real world. AR lets user experience the real world, which has been digitally augmented using computer-generated images, while VR fully immerse people in simulated virtual environments. Trends show online shopping, virtual city tours, photo filters like SnapChat or Instagram and obviously the smart glasses and gaming headsets, all feature the advanced technology of AR/VR.
Experts predict the AR/VR industry to reach more than $25B by 2025—and the growth will continue steadily.
Some of the major trends going around about AR/VR are:
- AR/VR powered with AI: The increased use of AR and VR is through the technologies increasingly merging with artificial intelligence (AI). AI is changing the way that the computers and smartphones, we use in everyday life can interact with the world around them. It can be seen in some of the Instagram’s filter function. It has also resulted in what’s known as Computer Vision, which allows devices to see and understand everything within a camera’s range. It also enhances the video games with smarter AI-driven components.
- AR/VR for navigation: People heavily rely on maps services from both Google and Apple to get around outside, while AR and VR technology is being used in ARKit based applications for indoor navigation that can provide directions in airports, malls, hospital and office campuses. Users can simply point their phone cameras and see information about surrounding features in real time.
- AR as a way for online shopping and retail: Several fashion, home improvement, makeup and major lifestyle brands stand to gain significant appeal with customers by using technologies that handle facial recognition and provide personalized advice. Virtual assistants also significantly change the shopping experience. Point-and-shoot retail AR solutions will also be major drivers of innovation. Major brands like IKEA allow their customers to point their phones at spaces and see what different products would look like in their own homes, just by using AR/VR.
At least 100 million users were expected to utilize AR-enabled shopping technologies by 2020, which is one of the hottest retail trends of this year, as reported by Gartner.
- AR/VR in entertainment industry: The entertainment world has begun using AR and VR technologies to reach new audiences and to drive the entertainment industry to new heights. One can now enjoy concerts from their own living room, streaming live to their VR headsets to create a unique experience. The mobile app game like Pokémon GO or more traditional gaming consoles offer a more immersive VR experience.
- AR/VR for educational prospect: Both of the technologies have evident benefits for teaching and training. It holds the capacity to quickly create a digital lesson and then share it with students anywhere in the world — whether in the classroom, workplace, or their homes. For example, the ability to play lessons in a VR environment using an Oculus or HTC Vive device is a major transition. Creative and effective learning strategies will benefit from this through collaborative learning experiences and creative content development.
Based on a Forrester report, it is estimated that 14 million American workers are expected to use smart glasses regularly on their jobs by 2025.
- AR/VR for increased advertising and marketing: With consumers spending more time on smartphones or computers and more people using VR and AR technology, businesses can foresee a better chance of reaching potential customers, by being able to target their advertisements at the right niche and the right clientele.
- AR/VR in travel and tourism: VR is creating an impact on the travel and tourism industry. Users can now experience any destination without having to leave the comfort of their own home. This allows people to get a better understanding of the region before they invest in a ticket or a hotel, letting them experience everything virtually before committing.
- Automobile and AR/VR: While fully autonomous cars may still be years away, but manufacturers have been able to take advantage of a variety of new technologies. One of these has been AR along with the technologies like AI and machine learning.
While AR adds digital elements to a live view often by using the camera on a smartphone, VR implies a complete immersion experience that shuts out the physical world. These advanced technologies can change the way a consumer interacts to a whole new level of immersive experience at an ease.
To know more about what what is trending at DAAS Labs in AR/VR, click here.
