Fields in which augmented reality will grow in 2018

FIELDS IN WHICH AUGMENTED REALITY WILL GROW IN 2018

We have already illustrated in a previous article how Augmented Reality is starting to be introduced in the architectural field, but predictions reveal that Augmented Reality is likely to grow in several other fields too. Virtual and Augmented Reality have a lot to offer to other industries, and not just entertainment.

Just think how safer would be doctor training if it was possible to reproduce surgery operations without risking lives. Or how efficient would be evaluating a product on the other side of the world without flying over there.

Augmented Reality is the most immediate answer to these needs.

In the following paragraphs we will show you the non-entertainment industries that are already investing in Augmented Reality.

AUGMENTED REALITY'S FIELDS: MEDICINE

The healthcare system expects to receive a revenue from AR/VR technologies by 2025 equal to 5.1 billion dollars.

Among the technologies projected to be used with Augmented Reality there are the Accuvein, the Va-St visor and new phone applications for health care.

Accuvein is a scanner that projects where all the different valves and veins are so that the health workers can easily find them on the first try. Statistics says that 40% of the times doctors and nurses miss at the first attempt.

Va-St visor was designed for totally or partially blind people and help them with everyday activities. The software is able to identify 3D objects and, by recognizing the surrounding, it can help with finding lost items, navigating new environments or mapping out familiar faces to aid recognition. For its benefits it was awarded with the 2014 Google Impact Challenge.

Finally, several phone applications were made to facilitate non-doctors to deal with health challenges. The Layar reality browser combined with AED4EU is meant to help users finding automated external defibrillators located nearby.

These are only few of the applications that Augmented Reality has into the health care and many other projects are in stand-by or wait to be ultimated.

AUGMENTED REALITY: THE FUTURE OF THE FIELD OF TRAVEL

The touristic and live events field are also very optimistic regarding Augmented Reality and estimate a revenue of 4.1 billion dollars by 2025. Also 84% of the consumers around the world are interested in using VR or AR for travel experiences and a good percentage believes that they are the future of tourism.

The most basic applications are Wikitude and Etips City Guides which help plan trips and suggest where to go and what to do in new places. Among the several functions there are providing itineraries and on-screen recommendations of the best restaurants and sightseeing spots in the camera view.

Also in the museum exhibitions Augmented Reality found its application. Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History allows visitors to overlay skin and movement onto skeletons. While the National Museum in Singapore visitors can search plants and animals using an app and camera on their phones.

Finally, teachers have multiple cheaper alternatives to bring children on field trips without leaving the classrooms.

AUGMENTED REALITY FOR AUTOMOTIVE

Augmented Reality is also an investment for the automobile sector. Both Chevy and Mazda have already started to add AR displays on their cars. They want to use Augmented Reality to display the speed and other important warning lights in order to allow the driver to see them but keep looking on the street at the time.

Others, such as WayRay, are financing new Navigation systems like Navion which uses clear glass display to direct you while you are driving and greatly reducing the possibilities to take the wrong way.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AUGMENTED REALITY AND MARKETING

Probably the sector that our company is interested the most. There are no boundaries on for marketing projects once Augmented Reality is on place. Advertisement campaign can be original and comprehensive and letting the consumers immediately understanding what the brand is offering at the same time.

Honda and Forza Motorsport 7, for example, put in place a car race between a professional racing driver and a professional video game racing driver using a joint mixed reality called Civic Type R.

This campaign allowed, on one side, to see if Forza’s players could deal with real races from home and, on the other, Honda could test a number of potential Augmented Reality systems and see if a virtual test drive is worth the investment.

Although it is still not possible to see the results, the campaign is to be considered as a success.

AUGMENTED REALITY: THE FUTURE OF THE RETAIL FIELD

Last but not least, it is the retail applications. The majority of the consumers would be delighted about Augmented Reality in retail. The applications are infinite.

Invisible stores, like the ones set up in Washington Square Park (NY) and Venice beach (LA), use the GPS and an app to view the products on sale and the closest shops where to buy them.

Consumers could also be able to instantly buy items by just laying their phone over the product they want.

Finally, customers could judge how they look into an outfit or how a certain nail polish color looks like on their hand without actually trying it on, thanks to high-tech mirrors.

In brief, Augmented Reality application to everyday life are many and diverse. Investing now is for certain a good deal for the next future.

Read more about Industry 4.0 and How Augmented Reality can change digital world.