The Increasing Popularity of Augmented Reality

While augmented reality (AR) has been around for some time, it is only over the last few years that it has started to get a lot of attention. For most people, their familiarity with AR is in relation to games like Pokémon Go! And photo filters that can be used in a number of different apps.

If you’re working on iOS mobile application development in London, for example, you may consider adding special geographic filters or AR imagery to your product. If people using your tourism application are able to put their face onto the London Bridge or Big Ben, they’ll be more likely to engage with your app while they’re in town.

What most people may not realize is that AR is really taking off. It is expected to have a major impact on a wide range of industries. Below are some of the ways this technology is now being leveraged.

AR in Marketing

Marketers are always looking for ways to create engaging experiences to promote products and brands. Since AR integrates elements in with the real world around the user, it provides a number of unique opportunities to increase engagement and connect with consumers.

One example that we are already starting to see is promotional print materials that have AR features. Instead of the simple, static materials of the past, a consumer can view AR print materials through a smartphone to see things like expanded information and demonstrations.

You also have augmented reality apps that are helping retailers sell products online. One great example is the use of virtual fitting rooms for clothing retailers. With apps that have this feature, consumers can virtually try on clothes before placing an order. This can act to decrease the chances of returns and increase a client’s likelihood of interacting with your brand again in the future.

AR in the Automotive Industry

The technology behind driver-less vehicles might get all of the buzz when it comes to the automotive industry, but AR is set to have a major impact as well. Designers are going to use AR to make better cars, and also use it as a tool to sell cars. AR is also going to change the driving experience.

In the design process, AR can be a tool that will help car manufacturers streamline the timeline of design and reduce costly setbacks. With the ability to test and view realistic representations of parts and features, automotive designers will be able to improve their designs and find problems before taking the time to manufacture and test the real part.

When it comes to selling cars, manufacturers could create realistic AR experiences that allow consumers to test different features of a new vehicle. We are already starting to see an early version of this with the AR test drive Jaguar Land Rover created for the Range Rover Velar. With this advertisement, consumers can experience a simulated test drive through the screen of a smartphone.

AR in Healthcare

Augmented reality has the potential to do more than just sell products and create entertaining experiences. In the field of healthcare, it could be applied to a variety of different processes in order improve care and make the lives of healthcare professionals easier.

Accusative provides one good example of AR technology already being used to improve healthcare. With this application of AR, the device projects a visual map of the patient’s musculature on the skin. This makes it easier to perform procedures that require access to a blood vessel.

Augmented reality could also be beneficial for a wide range of surgical procedures. With the ability to project 3D images into a real world environment, systems could be developed to provide surgeons with a map of a patient’s bones, organs, and blood vessels to use during surgery.

AR in Manufacturing

Manufacturing facilities could be made more efficient and productive using AR technologies. With the right tech, workers could have a number of resources and information available without having to look away from their work or leave their workstation.

With AR helmets or smart glasses like the ones developed by DAQRI, workers can have a range of vital information projected in front of their eyes while they work. For service technicians, it could also provide information about the conditions of different machines in the facility and instructions for how to perform a wide range of service procedures.

Augmented reality is already making its presence felt in these industries, but this is just the beginning. More businesses across a broader range of industries are going to experiment with uses for AR and before long, it will be the standard in many fields.