Apple’s Tim Cook calls it the next big thing after the iPhone.
DHL has already equipped its warehouse employees with it.
IKEA has launched a dedicated app leveraging this technology.
Wondering what these are all about?
Augmented Reality (AR) it is. A state-of-the-art mixed reality technology that is soon becoming mainstream across the world. The Pokemon Go app that made people run around collecting virtual characters and badges is one of the most easily relatable examples of Augmented Reality technology.
Is AR’s benefits limited to mobile apps and entertainment?
Absolutely, no. PwC’s Global Digital IQ Survey has found that 24% of executives would make significant investments in AR in the next three years.
Apple’s iPhone X has Augmented Reality as a highlight feature. In fact, the Cupertino tech giant has already invested $390 Million to create AR apps exclusive to Apple. Apple also has a Augmented Reality iOS kit, ARKit which allows developers to create Augmented Reality apps.
Another Augmented Reality Android SDK is Google’s ARCore with capabilities for motion tracking, environmental understanding and light estimation.
Industries where Augmented Reality Development is paving new Inroads
AR Technology has applications across all kinds of industries. In fact, Augmented Reality glasses are considered to be the driving force of cognitive revolution. Augmented Reality solves one of the challenging problems that have been plaguing executives – cognitive overload.
Augmented Reality applications overlay digital information snippets above physical objects when they are viewed through device screens.
For example, you can view the star rating or booking rates of a hotel by pointing your phone camera at the building through Augmented Reality apps.
Here are some more industries where Augmented Reality programming can be a game-changer.
Mining
Identifying new locations with mineral deposits is a capital extensive process in the mining industry. There is also the risk of landfill cave-ins and similar tragedies since miners cannot always calculate geo-spatial features. Augmented Reality can help scan a locality without having to penetrate it physically thus preventing the risk of penetrating existing openings.
Defense
In the defense industry, Augmented Reality takes upon an entirely dedicated form called the Tactical Augmented Reality (TAR). TAR takes the shape of miniature eyepieces that can project details like distance to target, 360-degree views of surroundings, 3D surface models, navigation directions and much more.
Education
The biggest draw of AR technology would come in the form of AR apps. Augmented reality app development for the education sector is already a bustling scene of activity. AR delivers an immersive experience to students which lets them learn and reproduce information with more conceptual understanding. Human digestive system, the solar system, chemical reactions, etc. can be shown with vivid detail using Augmented Reality.
Entertainment
Location-based Augmented Reality games will extend the pleasure traditional gaming systems. The rage that Pokemon Go created is a testament to this fact. Similar to Pokemon Go, a good number of other AR games are also being launched that allow players to blend digital and virtual environments.
Retail
Product catalogs, user manuals, help guides, etc. can all be made better and immersive using Augmented Reality applications. IKEA has already launched an AR app that overlays 3D product images on physical spaces to help customer pick the right product. AR in eCommerce would help reduce product churn rate as well as improve customer experience.
Manufacturing
In the manufacturing industry, equipments can malfunction abruptly due to internal issues. AR apps can help technicians see-through the equipment and find out what has gone wrong where. Heavy-duty machine maker Caterpillar uses such an AR app that provides unmatched support to customers and technicians in working with their equipments.
The Road Ahead for Augmented Reality Development
The number of Augmented Reality companies is growing on a daily basis. The technology as a whole is becoming popular, thanks to the rapid increase in digital information as well as accessibility to computational power . The road ahead for Augmented Reality looks promising. It will weed out inherent challenges that several industries have been experiencing for decades long.
