Augmented reality technology has proven to be one of the most successful breakthroughs, allowing businesses worldwide to expand into new markets. The number of people using mobile AR exceeds 3.5 billion this year. According to analysts, AR is expected to reach $198 billion in revenue by 2025.
In 2022, augmented reality trends will drive innovation in several areas. With such a vast market to tap into, offering increased reality experiences can be a competitive advantage in various businesses. As technology advances, working efficiency will also improve.
The Evolution Of Mobile Augmented Reality
Mobile augmented reality provides several distinct advantages that have sparked a lot of interest in the field. Many consumers already have an AR-capable smartphone, so they won’t need to buy expensive and cumbersome headgear. Mobile devices are incredibly portable and easy to bring into almost any environment by their very nature.
Augmented Reality In Healthcare
According to Deloitte Research, AR/MR-enabled hands-free solutions and IA-based diagnostic tools will alter the traditional healthcare business paradigm. For example, the Microsoft Hololens 2 can give surgeons information while allowing them to utilize both hands during surgery.
With the continuous restrictions associated with Covid-19, augmented reality solutions are becoming more crucial to solving concerns such as the complexity of remote patient support and the additional burden on hospitals. This includes telesurgery and mental health apps, both of which assist people in maintaining psychological balance during these trying times.
Telemedicine solutions, which are now on the rise, can benefit from AR technology. Drawing and annotating on a 3D screen, for example, can make communication between doctors and patients much easier and more apparent. Clinicians can use remote assistance tools to support their patients while reducing downtime.
When combined with machine learning algorithms, AR technology can be a valuable tool for detecting diseases. Google revealed in 2020 that it was working on an AR-based microscope for the Department of Defense (DoD) to increase cancer detection and treatment accuracy. A camera on such a hybrid device captures photos in real-time, then processed utilizing computer diagnostics to present results promptly and diagnose diseases at an early stage.
AR technology in the healthcare industry is estimated to produce $1,918.6 million by 2026, as per Research Dive.
Shopping Experiences In Augmented Reality
In the retail industry, augmented reality has a lot of potentials. Store mapping is one of these prospects that is presently being achieved. On-screen guidance can help a person explore the layout of a business to find the item they need using augmented reality. Dent Reality is one of the businesses working on augmented reality retail mapping solutions. Holding the phone up to their face, the user can follow the augmented reality guidance to the item they are looking for.
However, in 2022, AR in retail will go beyond navigation. It can assist customers in both in-store and online shopping. AR-based marketing materials, for example, can improve audience engagement while simultaneously increasing the possibility of purchases.
Customers can also utilize augmented reality to ‘test’ things before purchasing them. Ikea and Target have already released apps that allow customers to use augmented reality to visualize how furniture will fit in their houses. Virtual try-on solutions are being used by many retailers, like Target, Sephora, and others, to allow customers to examine things like makeup, glasses, and even other types of clothing like shoes. Above all, this can be done in the store or at home. As AR technology improves, consumer comfort will only increase.
In-store smart mirrors improve as mobile virtual fitting room technology develops. Topshop used virtual mirrors with Xbox Kinect 3D cameras in 2011. It was a great proof of concept that paved the way for more complex use-cases with more great graphics and processing in the future. According to Fortune Business Insights, the virtual fitting room market was valued at $3.5 billion in 2021. By 2028, it is predicted to reach $12.97 billion.
Remote Assistance And Augmented Reality
With aid and learning, augmented reality may substantially improve user experiences. According to Owl Labs, approximately 70% of full-time professionals in the United States will work from home by 2020. As video conferencing becomes the lifeblood of telework, many issues arise. How can we make up for the benefits and context of meeting in the real world’?
Teleconferencing is limited, allowing IT specialists to provide ideas so that the user can fix the problem themselves before sending their device in for repairs. We lose an entire degree of context when we use video conferencing, moving into two-dimensional space instead of three. This may have a negative influence on jobs such as IT technical support.
The potential of augmented reality cannot be disputed significantly, as the industry’s market worth rises. What’s more, AR’s reach goes far beyond gaming. It currently covers a wide range of sectors.
Although gaming still accounts for most industry revenue and will continue to be a significant driver of AR adoption, practical applications like healthcare, engineering, and sales will continue to gain traction.
Conclusion
2021 will likely be remembered as the year that marketers and users began to pay serious attention to augmented reality and its opportunities. With more firms investing in AR than ever before, and a rising number of consumers aware of AR beyond filters, staying up to date on the shifting landscape and current trends in the field is now essential for anybody trying to plan and safeguard their business for the future.
