The 5 Most Promising Augmented Reality Trends This Year
Augmented Reality trends are reshaping the digital landscape across various industries. Anticipated to reach 1.7 billion mobile AR users globally by 2024, businesses must embrace this evolving technology to stay competitive. In 2023, Augmented Reality (AR) software and hardware will dominate the market, prompting a heated race among companies to adopt it. Despite its growth, AR remains relatively untapped, offering vast potential. Therefore, enterprises need to assess its current state and tailor its application to their industry.
Before we discuss the future of augmented reality, we should know what augmented reality is.
Defining Augmented Reality
AR enhances our real-world experiences with digital elements through technology, like visuals and sound. This trend is gaining traction in mobile computing and applications, improving user experiences by integrating digital information into their surroundings.
Augmented Reality Trends 2023
1. Augmented Reality (AR) Combines With Artificial Intelligence (AI):
Artificial Intelligence and Augmented Reality are a dynamic duo with complementary roles. Firstly, AI serves as the powerhouse behind facial and spatial recognition software, which is crucial for AR’s functionality. Secondly, these technologies can collaborate, giving birth to innovative solutions that seamlessly blend AI’s capabilities with AR’s needs.
While AI and AR remain distinct technologies, their synergy is evident. AR relies on complex algorithms to decipher sensor data from the environment, a task simplified and enhanced by AI. Take ClipDrop, for example. This app swiftly transforms real-world objects into 3D digital assets usable in PowerPoint, Photoshop, Google Docs, and more. Such 3D scanning also facilitates the integration of real-world items into metaverse environments, expediting virtual trials for businesses.
Another compelling application is automatic design, exemplified by SketchAR. Users can draw in AR, but AI can take the reins, rapidly creating intricate structures. This hints at a future where AI may design real-world structures. In essence, AI and AR’s partnership opens doors to innovation and efficiency across various domains.
2. Smartphones to Become More AR-Ready
The smartphone remains a potent augmented reality tool, continually enhancing its capabilities through chip, camera, display, and connectivity advancements. Flagship phones from Google, Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, and others consistently elevate performance, imaging, and endurance. Innovative chips, high-res screens, complex cameras, improved batteries, and advanced connectivity bolster mobile AR prospects. Lower-priced models also inherit these features (though a little late), expanding AR accessibility.
Foldable and rollable phones like Samsung’s Flex Hybrid, predicted to reach 27.6 million units by IDC, offer more immersive AR experiences with expanded screens. With over 5 billion global users, smartphones remain the prime platform for delivering augmented reality, promising vast opportunities in 2023 for brands, marketers, platforms, and games.
3. AR Glasses to Advance Further
Mobile AR is accessible, but AR extends beyond phones. The buzz is all about AR glasses, with Microsoft’s HoloLens 2 leading the high-end, though it resembles a VR headset. Nreal Air, however, embodies the sleek AR glasses we envisioned, resembling stylish sunglasses. These glasses shine when linked to devices like phones or gaming consoles, offering large virtual screens for gaming and movies.
Then there’s MONOCLE, a pocket-sized AR device attachable to any glasses. It boasts a heads-up display, camera, microphone, Bluetooth, and open-source software and hardware, inviting creative tinkering.
Despite progress, AR glasses remain pricey. In the near future, we foresee wider adoption and affordability. In 5 to 10 years, AR glasses should evolve into slim, powerful frames rivaling today’s smartphones.
Taking a bold leap, envision AR eyewear two decades ahead. It could reach contact lenses or implant integration, merging the physical and digital realms. Imagine living a real-life Cyberpunk 2077 adventure. The future of AR is thrilling with plenty of new gadgets on the horizon.
4. Live Stream Shopping With AR to Blastoff
Live stream shopping, a trend surging from China to the West, is poised to become a $770.70 billion market by 2023. Brands harness e-commerce apps and social media platforms like TikTok Live and Instagram Live to hawk products. Influencers take the lead, showcasing items while engaging with real-time questions and interactions. This approach expedites sales for marketers. Yet, a drawback remains: online viewers can’t physically try products.
Enter augmented reality live broadcast shopping, which is set to revolutionize 2023. AR tech promises to bridge the gap, delivering immersive store experiences during live streams, eliminating returns, and offering customers tactile interactions, enriching the live commerce experience.
5. Augmented Reality to Transform Healthcare
Deloitte Research predicts a healthcare transformation driven by augmented reality and AI. These technologies offer hands-free AR/MR solutions and AI diagnostics. Microsoft’s Hololens 2 exemplifies this, aiding surgeons with real-time information and freeing their hands during procedures. With ongoing COVID-19 challenges, AR becomes crucial for remote patient support and reducing hospital strain.
Telesurgery and mental health apps enhance communication between doctors and patients through 3D screen features. Remote assistance tools aid clinicians while minimizing downtime. Combining AR with machine learning enables efficient disease detection. Google’s 2020 announcement highlighted AR microscopes enhancing cancer diagnosis accuracy for the Department of Defense.
Future of Augmented Reality
While we’ve outlined predictions, the future of augmented reality remains uncertain, hinging on individual and industry adoption and evolving trends. What’s certain: AR offers personalized, informative, and engaging experiences, transforming communication, learning, navigation, shopping, and entertainment. Pushing its boundaries seems inevitable.
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