Augmented reality may have arrived like a ton of bricks as a way to bring virtual objects into the real world. Still, it has matured into a powerful tool for various businesses over the last several years. It has become a traditional instrument in daily life, and its potential appears to be limitless.
What was the beginning of Augmented Reality? What are the current applications of AR technology, and what does the future of AR hold? Let’s have a look at what we can expect right now and shortly.
From small start-ups
Although augmented reality has exploded onto the scene in the last decade or two, it has a much humbler foundation. In 1968, the first head-mounted display system was created. The Sword of Damocles would be the industry’s last major innovation until 1975. When Myron Krueger‘s artificial reality lab, Videoplace, was introduced.
Former Boeing researcher Thomas P. Caudell gave it a name — Augmented Reality — in 1990. (AR). From there, technology has progressed at a breakneck pace. In 1998, NASA utilized it for field navigation. Companies began to use augmented reality as a platform for print marketing.
In 2010, Microsoft Kinect incorporated augmented reality as a motion sensor, allowing for interactive gameplay. The rise and subsequent fall of Google Glass occurred in 2013. “Pokémon Go” was released in 2016, and it employed augmented reality (AR) to project Pokémon onto the natural environment when users collected them.
AR was first offered as a technology that required specialist equipment. On the other hand, smartphone cameras have proven to be the ideal platform for gaming, shopping, and marketing.
In the present tense, augmented reality
We’re seeing augmented reality almost everywhere right now. Here are a few examples:
NASA is employing augmented reality and Microsoft’s HoloLens to help with spacecraft assembly: Engineers can utilize augmented reality to view the instructions, the parts they require, and even the following steps projected right onto the surface where they work, rather than relying on an extensive instruction and assembly manual. On the International Space Station, augmented reality headsets are used to command robots to maintenance and even exercise in space.
When you’re buying online, have you ever wondered how a piece of furniture or a paint color might appear in your home? Don’t be perplexed any longer. All you need is a smartphone camera, and sites like Amazon include an augmented reality mode that allows you to see your purchase in your home before you hit the Buy Now button.
Surgical training: While hands-on experience is ideal, you don’t want a new surgeon doing a delicate and dangerous operation on their first day. AR can provide physicians with the expertise they need to save lives when the time comes.
Face-to-face encounters have become difficult due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Property tours and project inspections are two examples. People can tour properties using augmented reality without ever leaving their homes.
This isn’t a comprehensive list; augmented reality is a valuable tool in practically every field, with novel ways of implementation and application.
What does augment reality’s future look like?
What does the future hold for AR? The present is already looking suitable for AR as a whole, so what does the future hold for AR precisely? Facebook has just introduced its new intelligent glasses in partnership with Ray-Ban. In 2022, Apple plans to release its headset and smart glasses.
Experts also expect that the expansion of 5G networks would make cloud-based AR experiences easier to support while improving their realism. 5G networks’ high-speed, low-latency internet will make it possible to extract programs and interactions from all over the world in a fraction of a second.
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced many organizations to adopt remote work, augmented reality may become a part of the average office area. Many people rolled their eyes when Facebook announced its virtual reality workplace software Horizon Workrooms earlier this year.
This AR technology use, on the other hand, might allow people to stay linked as if they were working in the same room without having to leave their homes. Without being present, an AR meeting may show participants in a room as holographic projections, movies, or even avatars.
The AR market is rapidly expanding. Experts predict that by 2030, the industry as a whole will be worth more than $76 billion, up from $26.75 billion in 2021. It will be fascinating to see what advancements emerge over that period and how much easier our lives may become with augmented reality.
Thinking about the future
Mixed reality (XR), which incorporates virtual and augmented reality components, will become a more prevalent part of daily life. While we may never achieve the heights of immersion seen in “Ready Player One” and other examples of virtual reality in popular culture, we will undoubtedly see more of this technology every day.
AR can instantly link individuals worldwide, give tools for a variety of sectors, and transform the way we engage with both the virtual and real worlds. From here, the only way is up, and it appears like the sky is the limit.
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