Though still largely in the developmental stage, augmented reality (AR) is no longer science fiction. Driven by consumer and industry demand, researchers have placed this emerging frontier on a fast track to produce technology that is destined to dramatically change the way we solve problems and interact with our world. This ranges from work and e-commerce to education, medicine, and enhancing independence for those with disabilities.

The public’s interest in the concept of AR was stirred in the early 1990s when virtual reality goggles were integrated into arcade machines, allowing users to immerse themselves with others in the stereoscopic 3D visuals of games like Pokémon Go. Later, AR (whose name was coined by Boeing researcher Tom Caudell in 1990) became popular through consumer gaming headsets, which gamers could use to have immersive experiences on their own personal consoles.

AR: A Disruptive, Formidable Technology And Market

Simply put, augmented reality is the integration of digital information (e.g., computer-generated display, sound, text and effects) to enhance or “augment” the user's real-world experience in real-time. Unlike virtual reality (VR), which creates an artificial environment, AR uses the existing environment while overlaying new information on top of it, thereby allowing us to experience existing reality in a more heightened and engaging way. AR can be experienced through headsets and through displays on mobile devices, opening AR to increased applications and broader audiences. We saw this recently with the launch of ARKit by Apple, and ARCore by Google in 2017.

With a user base that is expected to grow beyond 1 billion by 2020 and reach a compound annual growth rate of 151.93% between 2019 and 2025, AR is a bona fide technological powerhouse — and when combined with VR, it has the potential to disrupt some of our leading industries. According to Goldman Sachs, commercial spending for AR and VR will surpass consumer spending for these technologies by 2020 and grow to a projected $80-billion market by 2025.

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Growing Cadre Of Users

It is not surprising that AR is being increasingly used in such industries as those listed below:

Education: AR is helping students achieve enhanced learning results through visualization and full immersion in subject matter. Instead of reading about theory in books, students can see and engage with these concepts in real-time. As a result, education becomes more accessible, mobile and fun.

Medicine: Using AR applications that were first pioneered at institutions like Stanford, Duke and Johns Hopkins, The University of Maryland is prototyping the application of AR in medicine. For instance, surgeons, using AR headsets such as Microsoft’s HoloLens, are able to see key patient data and digital images (e.g., details of a patient’s aneurysm) superimposed over the surgeon’s field of view. This allows the physician to remain focused on the operative task without looking away to different multiple displays for more information.

Retailing: By using AR, consumers can know the size and appearance of the product in realistic ways before purchasing online, including how the product will look and function in the buyer’s desired location. For instance, with the app Dulux Visualiser, consumers can try out a shade of paint for their room before they buy it. Using a smartphone camera, they would scan the room and virtually paint it with any color.

Professional Training: AR’s accurate reproduction and simulation of on-the-job conditions can help workers master the practical skills required for their jobs. This includes allowing such professionals as teachers, soldiers, physicians and police officers to practice and hone new skills before applying them in real situations.

Auto Repair: Using an AR app via a mobile phone or tablet, mechanics making repairs on today’s highly complex vehicles can see superimposed imagery and information on their device, allowing defective parts to be located quicker and repairs to be broken down into a series of simple steps.

A Game Changer For Those Who Are Disabled

 AR also stands to be a game-changer for approximately 190 million people worldwide experiencing significant disabilities, including visual impairment. One of the major problems faced by disabled persons is the lack of independence, mainly when handling day-to-day affairs — an area that AR can, and is, helping to greatly improve.

For instance, building upon advances made in GPS and existing smart technology, recent research has reported success using AR to increase freedom for those with disabilities in daily experiences like shopping. These studies found that users, just by placing their AR smartphone or tablet on the shelf, get details of the product they're considering, after which the items are collected in a virtual cart.

For shoppers who can't move their hands, AR smart glasses allow them to select and get detailed information about a product without having to touch it.