Augmented Reality (AR) Trends

Technology has evolved rapidly in recent years, with many innovations introduced in our digital world. While some of them weren't that important, some have been successful. One of the technologies that have facilitated these changes is Augmented Reality, which has had a significant effect on many industries, including retail, gaming, and entertainment. AR has also influenced the field of digital communication, which was particularly noticeable at the start of the pandemic when many of us had to start doing our usual jobs, learning, and other activities at home.

Like any emerging technology, the speed of innovation and growth in AR is rapid and it can be a real challenge for businesses and their customers to keep up with augmented reality trends in communication. Some of those trends featured in this article will continue to define the digital communications industry in 2021.

Introducing AI to the AR/ VR Space:

Artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and virtual reality entered the business world a long time ago and have individually demonstrated their potential. But, starting this year, developers and business leaders alike will be eager to discuss the potential of their collaboration. They will seek to get a clear idea of ??how advanced machine learning algorithms and other artificial intelligence methodologies can help computers and other devices to visualize and understand things effectively. This will further lead to the emergence of highly interactive workspaces and better image recognition facilities.

Impact on Training and Education:

Both technologies have apparent advantages for education and training, as shown by schools and professional development courses. For example, people who study construction or any hazardous complex area can train without any of the risks often involved. By using virtual reality, budding professionals in these industries will be able to train in a simulated environment offering a high degree of precision while avoiding the risks associated with an error. In 2020, the immersive nature of virtual reality technology will help teachers engage students with learning materials in many new and exciting ways. It will improve the possibilities of remote teaching to students in virtual reality classrooms; avoid losing the benefits of learning in a collaborative environment.

The Rise of AR Avatars for Live Streaming:

With people's growing demand for more personal privacy and the drive to make online communication more personalized and unique, there is also a growing demand for AR avatars. There are now over 4,000 virtual YouTubers in Japan who prefer to use a digital version of them in the form of an avatar instead of looking at the camera.

Prepare Vehicles with the Power of AR:

Autonomous vehicles are increasingly popular around the world. It is now difficult for people to wait to get into these self-driving cars. But what surprises automakers is the integration of augmented reality into these vehicles in the near future. In 2021, several automotive industry leaders will embrace the idea of ??using these top tech trends to redefine the way people move and travel in the form of voice assistants, in-vehicle AR, and more.

Travel and Tourism:

Virtual reality is having an impact on the travel and tourism industry, and this is increasing with the popularity of devices. Indeed, many users can now discover a region without ever having to leave the comfort of their homes. Much of this has focused on potential travellers testing a location before spending money to get there. This allows people to better understand a region before investing in a ticket and hotel room, and travellers can experience it all virtually before committing.

Latest Trends in the Fashion Industry:

Fashion and beauty are undoubtedly one of the most innovative and dynamic industries to attract consumers and develop innovative strategies. One can easily imagine the introduction of a powerful and compelling tool like augmented reality (AR) into this field. Improved marketing campaigns and consumer engagement lead to better sales. Whether in online or offline marketplaces, the fashion retail business repeatedly tends to find early adopters of whatever is considered 'trending' or 'the next big thing'. 3.5 billion people would be using the augmented reality by 2022 according to the Digi-Capital.

The Advent of WebAR:

Until now, the AR experience has been limited to mobile devices. You need to download and install the mobile app to enter the augmented world. But now the WebAR has appeared. As the name suggests, this will make it easier for users to interact with augmented reality in the web space. This will allow them to be exposed to AR in Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or other similar browsers no matter what device they are running on, which will reduce the barriers to their use and a better overall experience.

The Rise of AR-based E-learning platforms:

This industry has experienced a boom due to the increasing demand for AR-based e-learning solutions among students and teachers. Online learning platforms and virtual classrooms are now helping various groups of people learn new things remotely during the pandemic. Using the advancements in technology, teachers can associate AR experiences with objects of curiosity, such as life-size 3D models, from which students can learn more about the object by placing a phone or tablet above.

Longevity Content:

When AR and VR technology was new, many developers quickly took advantage of it, creating a variety of apps and cheats that didn't last long. While these may have been popular, it was only for an extremely short period. In the years since that changed and the content is now intended to keep users coming back. This longevity is expected to continue to impact the niche, with game and application developers looking to attract and maintain the large virtual reality and augmented reality markets.

Using Radiography in Healthcare as a Medical Device:

AR, MR, and VR are reshaping the healthcare industry by serving different purposes independently. But, this year, the three will merge to make the most of the opportunities. From now on, health and healthcare professionals will be able to slide between these three technologies within a single application. This will provide them with greater efficiency and productivity, and allow them to reap the benefits of different use cases at the same time.

The Emergence of AR-Based Inland Navigation:

One of the emerging trends in the AR/ VR space that we will encounter this year is the use of AR for inland navigation. Just as software and on-board GPS maps direct us to a store, hospital, or other location on the outside, augmented reality-based navigation systems will help people inside. They will show you the way to a particular product, software, or location in a simple and engaging way; offer them an optimal experience without depending on others.

AR & VR Statistics and Growth Projections: 2021

Although this is a relatively young technology, the rise of AR and VR has been staggering, which is represented by a variety of startling statistics. Like the trends mentioned above, many of them are not showing any signs of fading or slowing down anytime soon.

Just over half of consumers, let’s say 53% will be interested in using virtual reality or augmented reality in the next three months.

The AR and the virtual reality market had sold 8.9 million units by the end of 2018, which is expected to grow to 65.9 million by the end of 2022.

Sales of AR and VR headsets are expected to increase to $ 9.7 billion in 2021.

Almost half of the consumers would be more likely to buy from a retailer that uses AR or VR.

70% of customers believe AR can bring benefits.

The AR market is expected to reach 1 billion users by the end of 2021.

There are more AR users than VR users, and technology is used by 8% and 13% of the population, respectively.

47% of Apple's ARKits were used for video games.

Virtual and augmented reality technologies are not going to disappear anytime soon; as the statistics pointed out above, they plan to continue to grow in the years to come. This not only means that we will see more companies operating in the niche, but outside companies will start to adopt the same.

Conclusion

With the constant change in the world we all live in, there is no doubt that the use of augmented reality in communication will mark new technological trends that businesses and users must adapt to.

Today, AR technology isn't just limited to the fun filters of Snapchat and Pokémon Go. The software can be found in almost every area of ??our world, be it education, work, health, or entertainment. The extent to which companies can tailor it to their advantage will influence their competitive advantage and the effectiveness of building lasting customer relationships. With the number of potential customers that the technology could attract, businesses will lose out if they are not properly exploited.