Augmented Reality (AR), The Biggest Technology Trend

AR improves how users visualize and therefore access all the new monitoring data, how they receive and follow instructions and guidance on product operations, and even how they interact with and control the products themselves.

Bosch Rexroth, a global provider of power units and controls used in manufacturing, uses an AR-enhanced visualization to demonstrate the design and capabilities of its smart, connected CytroPac hydraulic power unit. The AR application allows customers to see 3-D representations of the unit’s internal pump and cooling options in multiple configurations and how subsystems fit together.

There are some incredibly exciting applications for augmented reality in healthcare from allowing medical students to train in AR environments to telemedicine options that enable medical professionals to interact with patients. In critical situations, augmented reality applications can deliver real-time information to the treatment area to support diagnosis, surgery and treatment plans. AccuVein is a handheld device that can scan the vein network of a patient that leads to a 45% reduction in escalations. Surgeons can plan procedures before making the first cut, models can be made of tumors, and AR diagnostic tools can model disease conditions.

AR technology is making a difference in the education business vertical in two ways: by engaging users and by making the concepts interactive.

By incorporating gaming elements into the classroom, AR provides an exceptional experience for both teachers and students.

It encourages them to turn a boring class into a jaw-dropping experience and learn complicated concepts easily via 3D AR modeling. It empowers them to learn beyond the textbook material and satisfy curiosity.

Beyond that, it enables tutors and teachers to provide the right environment for students so they can give their best output. For example, by turning a classroom into an augmented reality playground or high-definition gym, a physical education instructor can easily prompt students to practice actively.

AR adds life to formerly static marketing mediums. It enables marketers to include 3D animations, video and targeted information into AR-based storefronts, brochures, posters, t-shirts, flyers, and billboards.

One of the biggest hurdles to successfully selling larger items in retail stores is that customers are often unsure of whether or not a purchase is actually going to fit in the space they have available when they get it home. That barbeque pit might look great in the showroom, but at home, it might just dwarf the backyard.

Home supply store Lowe’s has found a workaround for that problem by using AR to allow customers to picture big-ticket items, like grills, right in their own backyard. This also enables sales teams to give shoppers a better idea of which products are right for their budgets and their space.

AR has also enhanced enterprise working experiences. By creating an AR projection of the person on call at the other end, the technology is making users feel as if they are talking directly. This way, it is improving the engagement and productivity of the process. Besides, the technology is playing a crucial role in scanning and gathering all the online information about an individual so as to verify his background before getting into a deal.

Although the potential of Augmented Reality is not yet unleashed completely, the technology is setting the beginning of a new era in the business world. It is improving the way brands interact with the customers and acting as the right tool to boost customer engagement. The adoption of the AR technology is growing so rapidly that its market is expected to cross $117.4 billion by the year 2022, which clearly indicates investing in AR app development is the need of the hour.