Future of AR/VR – Augmented reality (AR) is projected to grow substantially in the coming years as the technology improves and new applications emerge. According to one estimate, the AR market will grow from $15.3 billion in 2020 to over $77 billion by 2024.
One major area of growth will be in AR-enabled smart glasses and headsets. As the form factor of these devices improves and becomes more stylish and lightweight, consumer adoption is expected to increase. Companies like Apple, Facebook, Google, Microsoft and others are investing heavily in this space and will likely release consumer AR glasses in the next 5 years. These will enable hands-free AR experiences.
AR is also expected to see rapid growth in enterprise applications such as manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and retail. For example, AR can assist factory workers with step-by-step instructions and visual overlays. In logistics, AR can help warehouse workers locate and move inventory more efficiently. AR-assisted surgery is another promising field.
Over time, AR technology will improve with better displays, faster processing, expanded wireless connectivity, and advanced computer vision. This will enable more seamless and realistic blending of virtual objects with the real environment. Eye-tracking and hand-tracking sensors will allow for more natural user interaction.
New AR applications and use cases will emerge across gaming, live events, social media, mapping, navigation, and more. For example, AR may change how we consume sports by bringing overlays and stats into a live game view. AR will become increasingly multi-user, with shared spaces and experiences.
Overall, AR has significant momentum and upside potential as both the technology and ecosystem continue to develop over the next decade. It promises to become a primary interface between the digital and physical worlds.
The Future of AR/VR
Virtual reality (VR) has come a long way in recent years, but many experts believe the technology still has tremendous room for growth and innovation. Here are some projections for the future of VR:
Further Advancements in VR Hardware – Headsets are likely to become lighter, more comfortable, and higher resolution. Eye tracking and facial tracking will enable avatars to mimic users’ expressions. Haptics will add realistic touch feedback. Omnidirectional treadmills will allow users to explore space by walking naturally. Hand tracking will improve with devices like sensor gloves.
More Immersive and Engaging Experiences – With better hardware, VR worlds will become more lifelike and interactive. AI characters will react realistically and enable natural conversations. Shared social VR spaces will host concerts, sports, and other events. High-quality VR films and interactive stories will captivate audiences. Gamified education and training will enhance learning.
Broader Adoption Across Industries Future of AR/VR
VR may be adopted for collaboration in business, allowing remote meetings in virtual spaces. It can be used for virtual tourism, allowing people to visit faraway places. VR therapy can help treat phobias, PTSD, and other conditions. VR-assisted surgery can improve accuracy and outcomes. More applications will emerge across sectors.
Seamless Integration with AR – VR and AR will converge, enabling smooth transitions between virtual and augmented environments. Holographic displays will blend real and virtual seamlessly. This mixed reality will enhance simulations, training, design, and more.
More Affordable and Accessible Hardwar* – As the market grows, economies of scale will reduce VR costs. All-in-one wireless headsets will become mainstream. VR devices will work with more smartphones. These factors will help make immersive VR experiences available to the masses.
With many promising innovations on the horizon, VR is poised to become a transformative computing platform over the next 5-10 years. As the technology matures, it has the potential to profoundly change how we interact, learn, work, and play. The possibilities are only limited by imagination and creativity.
Challenges for Adoption for Future of AR/VR
Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) hold enormous promise, but still face significant hurdles to widespread consumer adoption and acceptance. Some of the key challenges include:
Consumer Adoption
– Cost – AR/VR headsets and equipment are still quite expensive for average consumers. As prices come down, adoption will increase.
– User experience – The user experience, especially for VR, is still being refined. As hardware improves and experiences become more seamless, natural and comfortable for users, adoption will rise.
– Use cases – Consumers are still unsure about the real-world benefits and use cases of AR/VR. As more apps and practical use cases emerge, and people see benefits in areas like education, gaming, healthcare etc, adoption will likely improve.
Regulations
– Privacy and data collection policies are still emerging around AR/VR. Regulations need to protect users while enabling innovation.
– Health and safety regulations will need to be developed as use increases. This includes screen time guidelines and motion sickness/headache warnings.
Ethical Concerns
– AR/VR introduces new concerns around data privacy, personal space, offensive content, and realistic violence. Ethical norms and standards will need to develop.
Hardware Limitations
– Field of view needs to expand to become more natural and seamless.
– Processing power and graphics capabilities need to improve, especially for mobile AR/VR.
– Battery life is a key constraint, especially for standalone headsets.
– As hardware improves to be smaller, lighter, faster and with better displays, adoption will increase.
Overcoming these challenges around consumer adoption, regulations, ethics and hardware will be key for AR/VR to achieve mass market acceptance and use. But the momentum is clearly growing as both technologies continue advancing rapidly.
Major Players in Future of AR/VR
Augmented and virtual reality technology has seen major investments and advancements by large tech companies over the past decade. Here are some of the key players:
Microsoft
Microsoft has been developing its HoloLens AR headset since 2015. The technology allows users to interact with holograms in real-world environments. HoloLens has applications in gaming, design, healthcare, and business. In 2020, Microsoft won a $21.9 billion military contract to supply augmented reality headsets to soldiers.
- Read More about Unlocking Corporate Sustainability: Your Essential Guide to Standards : Click Here
Google
Google launched its AR Core platform in 2017 to enable AR experiences on Android phones. It also acquired VR headset maker Oculus for $2.1 billion in 2014, although Oculus now operates as a separate subsidiary of Meta. Google has demonstrated AR/VR prototypes like Google Glass and Daydream, but has yet to release a major consumer device.
- Latest from our Founder Manav Subodh’s trip to the Big Apple🍎 : Click Here
Meta
Meta (formerly Facebook) acquired Oculus in 2014 and has since become a major player in VR. The Oculus Quest headset has sold over 10 million units, more than any other VR headset. Meta is investing billions into its metaverse concept, which uses VR and AR to create persistent virtual worlds. In 2021, it launched Ray-Ban Stories, AR smart glasses developed with Essil or Luxottica.
- Read More about Unlocking the Potential: The Transformative Impact of 5G Technology Impact Across Industries : Click Here
Apple
Apple released AR Kit in 2017, allowing iOS developers to easily create AR apps. It has steadily improved smartphone AR capabilities through dual cameras and sensors like LiDAR. Apple has not yet released a VR/AR headset, but has filed patents and is rumored to be working on both AR and VR devices for potential release within the next couple of years.
- A month after launch #1M1B #Greenskills academy in Telangana : Click Here
Snap
Snap’s (Snapchat) AR selfie filters and lenses have helped popularize consumer AR effects. It has invested heavily in AR software and hardware capabilities. In 2016, it acquired VR startup Seene, and in 2019 released AR Spectacles sunglasses. Snap’s AR platform and camera capabilities power experiences across ecommerce, entertainment, gaming, and more.
- To Read More about Climate Change Mitigation: Understanding the Challenge Ahead : Click Here
Samsung
Though not yet a leader, Samsung has released multiple AR/VR products, including the Gear VR headset and AR Emoji. It incorporates AR features into phones like the Galaxy S10 5G. In 2022, Samsung unveiled its first AR glasses prototype. It aims to develop lightweight AR glasses for the consumer market.
Other Players in Future of AR/VR
Other companies making investments in AR and VR include Sony, HTC, Lenovo, Xiaomi, Adobe, Unity, Epic Games, and Niantic. Their efforts across hardware, software, and content are helping bring immersive realities into the mainstream.
Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) have seen rapid growth and adoption over the past several years. Both technologies aim to enhance and augment human experiences, though in different ways.
AR overlays digital information and objects onto the real world, while VR fully immerses users into a simulated environment. Current AR applications allow users to visualize products in real world settings, assist in complex tasks like surgery, and enhance gaming and entertainment. VR is being used for immersive gaming and entertainment, virtual tourism, training simulations, and more.
Key benefits of AR/VR include enhancing visualization, improving learning and training, accessing experiences not possible in the real world, and boosting engagement and interactivity. However, there are still limitations around hardware costs, user discomfort, and developing compelling content.
Looking ahead, AR and VR will likely continue advancing alongside improvements in hardware capabilities, 5G connectivity, AI integration, and content development. We can expect AR and VR to become increasingly ubiquitous across industries like retail, healthcare, education, gaming, and more. Challenges around regulation, privacy, security, and accessibility will need to be addressed. But the future looks bright for AR and VR to become more deeply integrated into both consumer and enterprise technology.
