Introduction to Augmented Reality
Apple has been holding internal meetings to debate the revealing of its augmented reality (AR) technology, with plans to release an AR headset in 2022 and AR glasses in 2023. This move is critical, as AR has the potential to surpass the virtual reality (VR) market, which has been slow to achieve traction.
The Current State of AR Technology
Most people’s experience with AR is restricted to playing Pokémon Go or using Snapchat’s live filters. However, AR technology has been around for some time, with the Nintendo 3DS being bundled with AR Games that used physical cards. Despite its potential, AR has been slow to be adopted by industries, with few exceptions, equivalent to unmanned guided tours or therapeutic uses like helping autistic children communicate.
The Failure of Google Glass
When Google launched Google Glass in 2012, it failed to achieve market share attributable to an absence of clear use cases. While it had some specific uses, equivalent to helping autistic children, it didn’t turn into a mainstream success. This failure has made some experts cautious in regards to the potential of AR technology.
The Potential of AR to Leapfrog VR
However, there are reasons to imagine that AR could leapfrog VR and make a much bigger impact in the marketplace. Unlike VR, AR doesn’t cause motion sickness or headaches, and developers don’t need to construct complete worlds and environments. AR also has an enormous advantage in educational and human services uses, as it might discover real-world objects and supply details about them. For consumers, AR might be used to discover products on shelves or show how furniture would look of their homes.
Apple’s Plans for AR
It is just not clear what Apple plans to do within the AR space, but industry insiders speculate that AR is the "next thing" now that smartphones have reached some extent of incremental improvements. Apple’s plans, as reported by The Information, show a longer-term commitment to AR technology, with a headset and glasses to be released in 2022 and 2023, respectively.
The Challenges Facing AR Adoption
Despite the potential of AR, there are challenges facing its adoption. Nearly half of consumers report that the high cost and lack of content are reasons they’ve not adopted VR or AR. To succeed, AR needs a "killer app" that may make it indispensable to consumers. This could possibly be a game, an app, or another sort of experience that showcases the potential of AR.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Apple’s plans to release AR technology in 2022 and 2023 are significant, and AR has the potential to leapfrog VR and make a much bigger impact in the marketplace. While there are challenges facing AR adoption, the potential advantages of AR technology make it an exciting development to observe. As Apple has a track record of releasing paradigm-shifting products, it should be interesting to see how their AR technology is received by consumers. With the iPhone still drawing lines across the block when latest models are released, it is evident that Apple has the flexibility to create products that change consumer life and technology.
