One of the significant aspects of AR technology is that it helps us visualise products and imagine what owning them might feel like before we purchase them. AR allows retailers to showcase virtual products in real-time in the customer’s real environment. AR technology has been around for some time, which means it’s not a new technology. However, we are using it today in a way which it hasn’t been used before, which is why the concept and its introduction in our lifestyles have had a considerable impact. We also never had technology that was so readily available to us that allowed us to use AR, but now thanks to your smartphone, AR can change the way we live.
AR is a technology which overlays information in the context of audio, graphics and virtual objects over real-time displays on smartphones and devices. It uses the already existing environment and adds in information to make a new artificial environment which includes simulated graphics. The fact that many are now creating AR apps which connect to different industries means the application of it is aimed at a wider audience. The implementation of AR can help boost profits and save lives.
Safety and rescue operations
AR can be adapted to fit into many different industries. One of the ways AR can help multiple industries is by increasing safety. AR can provide detailed 3D maps of areas where a rescue mission needs to take place, giving first responders the most information they can have before they begin their rescue mission.
AR can also be used as a training and assisting tool for those who work with machinery in on-site manufacturing and construction. There is a need for more attention to safety in these types of working environments. DAQRI Worksense offers a suite of essential AR productivity tools for the digital workforce that enhances high-value and complex tasks with AR. DAQRI offers smart glasses which house DAQRI work sense technology that can seamlessly be integrated into already existing workflows to improve business process.
Entertainment
AR is flourishing through the entertainment industry thanks to mobile gaming apps such as Pokemon Go which lets users catch Pokemon using their smartphones cameras. AR turns a user’s surroundings into an interactive gaming landscape. By doing this, the user feels immersed in the game, adding a different dimension to gaming altogether.
One of the main reasons why AR has taken off is because users now have the technology available to them which will help grow the industry. The fact that AR places characters in real-time environments makes gameplay seem more natural. The creators of Pokemon Go have also made the game relatable to the user’s real-world environment by only finding certain Pokemon in their natural habitat. This makes the gaming experience adventurous as water pokemon are found near real world rivers and lakes.
Shopping and Retail
AR has arguably had its most significant impact on the retail industry. There are many apps available in the retail and fashion industry which increase the users shopping experience. This is true not only in fashion but also in interior design. AR offers customers product visualisation which allows them to see and demo products before purchasing them. The IKEA Place app enables users to view 3D models of exact life-size products on their AR app and how they would look in the homes of their customers. This helps consumers visualise furniture without buying it. In-store augmented reality can also help display information and credentials of the product even if packaged with a simple image scan. AR is also being used in beauty by Sephora, which uses AR technology to let its customers try out different make-up looks to help them in their purchase of beauty products.
Health Care
The benefits of AR in healthcare has changed the landscape of traditional medicine. AR can now help surgeons and doctors gain a better picture of what is happening in a patient’s body to help assess and treat them better. EchoPixel is a tool which develops medical imaging devices and enables doctors to use CT images from patients to display a 3D model. AR tools such as this allow practitioners to render patient specific anatomy leading to increased clinical knowledge, which in turn will speed up the care process. The system works by using four cameras which track the user’s movements, and the glasses turn images into 3D visuals allowing them to interact with the image in real time.
