Introduction to Augmented Reality
Augmented reality (AR) is a technology that’s changing the best way we live, work, and play. It adds a computer-generated input to a real-world environment, allowing the 2 to interact and be digitally manipulated. As AR technology matures, its applications proceed to grow, influencing industries comparable to retail, construction, tourism, education, healthcare, and more.
What is Augmented Reality?
Augmented reality technology takes a real-world environment and adds a computer-generated input to it. This allows the real-world and the augmented environments to interact together and be digitally manipulated. With the increasing maturity of AR technology, the variety of applications continues to grow, and it could actually influence our shopping, entertainment, work, and more.
Augmented Reality in Retail
When searching for clothes, shoes, glasses, or the rest we would wear, it’s natural to wish to "try it on" before we purchase it. Augmented reality is making this possible. Companies like Vyking, Converse, and WatchBox are using AR to permit shoppers to "try on" products via their smartphone screens. For example, WatchBox added AR capabilities to their mobile shopping app, allowing customers to "try on" a watch they’re excited by purchasing. Similarly, Speqs Eyewear’s app allows customers to immediately try on any form of eyewear through AR.
Augmented Reality in Construction and Maintenance
In construction, AR allows architects, construction crews, developers, and clients to visualise what a proposed design would appear like in an area and existing conditions before any construction begins. It also can help discover constructability issues on a job, allowing architects and builders to brainstorm solutions before the issue becomes tougher to resolve after construction begins. AR also can support ongoing maintenance of buildings and products by providing interactive 3D animations and directions.
Augmented Reality in Tourism
Travel brands can provide potential visitors with an immersive experience from a destination before they travel because of AR technology. With AR solutions, agents and destinations may give visitors more information and signposts to their destinations. AR apps can assist holidaymakers navigate through resorts and study points of interest at destinations.
Augmented Reality in Education
While there’s still much to explore regarding how AR can support education, the probabilities are significant. EdTech is anticipated to grow 17% every year to succeed in $252 billion by 2020, and it could actually support all ages group and education level. AR could help educators engage students within the classroom with dynamic 3D models, overlays of fun facts, and more regarding the topics they’re learning about. Visual learners would profit from the visualization capabilities of AR that may bring concepts to life via digital renderings.
Augmented Reality in Healthcare
AR could make digital images and significant information available to surgeons in 3D and inside their field of view. Surgeons won’t have to look away from the surgical field to access crucial information they may require to perform a successful procedure. Startups are constructing AR technology to support digital surgery, 3D medical imaging, and specific surgeries.
Augmented Reality in Navigation Systems
Sygic’s AR feature improves the protection of navigation apps by combining a smartphone’s GPS with AR that guides drivers along a virtual path. True AR, offered by Navion, is the primary holographic AR navigation system for cars. The system evolves because the environment across the automobile changes.
Conclusion
Augmented reality is a technology that’s changing the best way we live, work, and play. Its applications proceed to grow, influencing industries comparable to retail, construction, tourism, education, healthcare, and more. With its ability so as to add a computer-generated input to a real-world environment, AR is making it possible for us to "try on" products, visualize proposed designs, and access critical information in a more immersive and interactive way. As AR technology continues to mature, we will expect to see much more progressive applications in the long run.
