Introduction to Augmented Reality

The growth of augmented reality (AR) applications lately may be attributed to solutions that allow consumers to visualise products and picture what it’d feel prefer to own the product or experience the service before actually purchasing it. As augmented technology becomes more sophisticated and the cost-saving and business applications expand, the demand and investment in AR will increase. In 2017, ARKit was launched by Apple, and Google released ARCore for Android, each powerful tools for developers to create AR apps. It is predicted that there will probably be 1 billion augmented reality users by 2020.

What is Augmented Reality?

When someone talks about AR, they’re referring to technology that overlays information and virtual objects on real-world scenes in real-time. It uses the prevailing environment and adds information to it to make a brand new artificial environment. Many developers are creating augmented reality apps, and this has opened up the technology to many applications and a broader audience. If you’ve watched an American football game since 1998, you likely have seen the down line portrayed as a yellow line that moved down the sector. That is an example of an augmented reality application.

Real-World Applications of Augmented Reality

Augmented reality is already getting used in various industries, including retail, healthcare, and education. One notable example is the Gatwick airport passenger app, which won several awards for its creative use of AR technology. The app uses over 2,000 beacons throughout its two terminals to offer passengers with AR maps, helping them navigate the airport more easily.

Retail and Shopping

For those that have purchased furniture and discovered once it was delivered it didn’t work within the space, the Ikea Place app will assist you to avoid that predicament in the longer term. The app was built using Apple’s ARKit technology, and it lets you scan your room and design the space by placing Ikea objects within the digital image of your room to create a brand new environment with the brand new products. Other firms, akin to Dulux and Lowe’s, are also using AR technology to assist customers visualize products of their homes. The Dulux Visualiser helps you are trying out a shade of paint to your room before you purchase, while Lowe’s Measured by Lowe’s app lets you measure spaces and objects using your smartphone camera.

Beauty and Fashion

Cosmetic company Sephora uses AR technology to permit customers to check out different looks and eye, lips, and cheek products in addition to colours right on their very own digital face. This is a strong strategy to boost sales and to offer customers a fun strategy to check out latest looks. Another company that uses augmented reality to encourage purchases is Rolex. The company has developed a virtual try-on experience where prospective customers can check out different styles and models.

Healthcare

There are some incredibly exciting applications for augmented reality in healthcare, from allowing medical students to coach in AR environments to telemedicine options that enable medical professionals to interact with patients. In critical situations, augmented reality applications can deliver real-time information to the treatment area to support diagnosis, surgery, and treatment plans. AccuVein is a handheld device that may scan the vein network of a patient, resulting in a forty five% reduction in escalations. Surgeons can plan procedures before making the primary cut, models may be product of tumors, and AR diagnostic tools can model disease conditions.

Entertainment and Education

Rather than increase sales, sometimes AR is just created for fun or to have interaction with customers, akin to the Bic DrawyBook app or teeth brushing games from Georgia-Pacific’s Dixie brand. AR can also be getting used in education to create interactive and immersive learning experiences for college kids.

Conclusion

In conclusion, augmented reality is a rapidly growing technology with a wide selection of applications across various industries. From retail and shopping to healthcare and education, AR is changing the best way we interact with the world around us. As the technology continues to evolve and improve, we are able to expect to see much more modern and exciting applications of AR in the longer term. With the expected 1 billion AR users by 2020, it’s clear that augmented reality is here to remain and can proceed to shape the best way we live, work, and play.