Introduction to Augmented Reality
Augmented reality (AR) is a technology that has been gaining attention lately, with big corporations like Apple and Google investing in its development. However, despite the hype, AR has yet to grow to be an element of our every day lives. One of the essential reasons for that is the shortage of discreet headwear that could make the technology more viable for on a regular basis use.
The Current State of AR
A brand new patent from Apple suggests that the corporate is working on a heads-up display that might be used to interact with AR objects. However, the patent also shows that the headset will have to be used along side a phone or tablet, which shouldn’t be what consumers are on the lookout for. We want AR to give you the chance to overlay digital items onto our real environments without the necessity for a handheld device.
The Problem with Current AR Solutions
The current solutions for AR, comparable to Magic Leap and HoloLens 2, have been disappointing. Magic Leap was more hype than hope, and HoloLens 2 is pricey and never intended for consumer use. Other AR headsets are more discreet but lack functionality, only capable of flash icons within the user’s field of view. This shouldn’t be what we expect from AR, and it’s no wonder that the technology has been slow to take off.
The Future of AR
The rumored release date for Apple’s AR platform, called ‘rOS’, is sometime around 2020 or 2021. However, if the patent is any indication, the AR future we have been expecting remains to be far-off. The undeniable fact that the headset will have to be used with a phone or tablet is a concession to the constraints of current hardware. This suggests that the event of AR shouldn’t be as advanced as we thought, and it could be some time before we see the type of discreet headwear that we would like.
The Potential Use-Cases for AR
Despite the slow development of AR, there are still some potential use-cases for the technology. For example, AR might be used for workplace collaboration, which opens up latest doors for the technology. However, it’s unclear how useful AR shall be for the common consumer. Will people need to use AR to view spreadsheets or receive pop-up text messages that only prompt them to show to a more traditional device for interaction? It’s likely that the marketplace for AR will remain relatively narrow, a minimum of for the foreseeable future.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the event of AR is slower than we expected, and the present solutions usually are not what consumers are on the lookout for. The lack of discreet headwear and the necessity for handheld devices to interact with AR objects are major limitations. While there are some potential use-cases for AR, comparable to workplace collaboration, it’s unclear how useful the technology shall be for the common consumer. As developers consider the potential use-cases for AR, they must also consider the constraints of the technology and the way it might be improved to satisfy the needs of consumers.
