To first understand the 10 AR and VR trends and predictions to look out for AR and VR in the future, we must first understand these technologies.
Mixed Reality technologies like AR and VR are rapidly evolving. Alongside other technologies like simulation, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Big Data, AR and VR will shape the industry on its next frontier of Industry 4.0. The trends for AR and VR are starting to kick off. It can be seen due to an increase in enthusiasm about the technology. And the market as well for these technologies and their value in consumer space, which is swiftly increasing.
Researchers predict that the global market for AR and VR will cross 30.7 Billion US Dollars. This figure is forecast to reach more than 209 Billion US Dollars by 2022. It shows that there are high expectations towards the increasing market of AR and VR. Consequently, companies and industries are moving closer to adopting these technologies to enhance consumer experience and digital upgrades in product innovation, design, and development.
Understand the technology: AR and VR
Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) are Extended Reality (XR) or Mixed-Reality technologies. They allow for immersive experience either by extending and enhancing the real world or under an entire virtual world. AR and VR technology generally use different sensory and digital elements to immerse the user in either a virtually enhanced/extended real-world environment or a completely virtual i.e.simulation environment.
Augmented Reality (AR) is mixed reality technology that enables interactive experiences with the real world. With the help of AR, the whole natural world and its different objects/elements can become immersive along with its enhancement. AR systems can enable this enhancement through various kinds of digital features like overlays or additional digital graphics. The system also adds sounds and sensory feedback like haptics to provide more realism.
Since AR systems are adding elements or removing elements on/from the real world, the adding or removing process must be seamless and blends with the resultant environment properly. It is because the goal of an AR system is to integrate these additional digital elements in the real world such that the user feels the experience is immersive. Therefore, the AR environment is part of the real world.
Read more: Busted: 5 Top Myths About VR and AR Training
Virtual Reality (VR) provides a complete virtual experience in a 3D virtual or a simulation environment. The VR system creates this 3D virtual world with computer-generated graphics and adds different elements to increase its realism or immersive experience. For example, aspects like sound and haptics are in the VR system to provide more realism to the environment.
The VR system generates a 3D world in which additional digital elements and sensory elements help the VR system to immerse the user in that VR world. The goal of any VR system is to make the user feel like they are in a different VR world or a part of this new world.
These immersive technologies help to enhance different product experiences for a richer consumer experience and help companies improve their capabilities and realize various benefits and advantages of possessing these technologies. In addition, some of these advantages allow the companies to enable a higher level of product innovation and R&D technologies.
Top 10 AR and VR Trends and Predictions
AR/VR market will rapidly increase along with an increase in its adoption and accessibility.
Researchers predict that the overall global market for AR and VR will substantially increase. Not only for 2022 but in the coming years as well. It forecasts that the global AR and VR market value, including different AR/VR devices, various applications, end-use, and industrial use, will reach more than 300 Billion US Dollars by 2024. Furthermore, it shows that the AR/VR market will continue to rise.
Besides this, along with the rise in the market value, AR/VR will also increase adoption and accessibility. As a result, various industries and companies will adopt these technologies, while multiple consumers worldwide will see an increase in the accessibility of AR/VR devices and content.
Convergence of AI with AR and VR
AI is a revolutionary technology. Almost every technology will eventually integrate with AI and various technologies like Machine Learning (ML) and Big Data. AR and VR are no different. The potential and opportunities within AR/VR have already prompted various applications and use-cases of AR and VR with AI. Multiple companies are integrating AI with AR, VR, and simulation technology to enable different kinds of innovative solutions that will change the face of the industry.
The possibilities of AI with AR and VR are endless. AR and VR with AI bring new product innovations, better R&D technology, faster monitoring and development, efficient product cycle, and overall efficiency and capabilities. Primarily, automation is the primary goal that will be easier to achieve through technologies like AR and VR when in integration with AI. Hence, we will see many applications and implementations of AR and VR in convergence with AI.
AR and VR in e-commerce and for enhanced consumer experience
Various e-commerce companies are already using AR and VR for product visualization. Multiple companies use AR cameras to let users “try-out” different products, primarily glasses, shoes, clothes, etc., virtually through their e-commerce platform. This trend will undoubtedly increase, and more and more companies will use AR to enhance the e-commerce shopping experience.
Consumer experience will also increase due to AR/VR. Various companies will let end-users experience using their products virtually. For instance, businesses like home renovation, furniture, house retail, etc., will use AR/VR to enhance their consumer experience.
AR and VR with WebXR
WebXR is a technology that allows serving AR and VR content through the web. It means that the accessibility of AR and VR will bloom due to the ability to service AR/VR content through web browsers. Not only on powerful computers and devices with dedicated systems to run AR/VR content, but companies would also be able to serve AR/VR events on mobile devices and smartphones through the power of WebXR.
Due to this, we will see an influx of AR/VR content across the internet, and people will be able to view them more easily. Additionally, as WebXR improves, we will see many more people access XR content more easily.
AR and VR training and remote assistance
The power of AR and VR allows for organizations/companies/industries to host training facilities digitally and provide remote assistance. It opens up whole new possibilities and a range of services a company can provide. AR and VR training though not new, is swiftly gaining momentum in industries that can be dangerous or fatal while training physically. Especially industries like the aerospace industry and military will utilize this technology a lot more and reap benefits from this. The increased training efficiency and the ability to train people in different scenarios and environments allow physical and mental movement. It opens a whole new road of digital training and remote assistance never seen before.
Read more: Why Should You Be Paying Attention to WebXR?
AR and VR in the general consumer market
The consumer market is also rapidly increasing for AR and VR devices and content. Previously the industrial use of AR and VR overshadowed commercial use, whereas, in 2022 and coming years, the retail industry for AR/VR will finally rise and be a more significant part of the XR paradigm.
Researchers predict that consumers will increasingly continue to adopt newer technologies, including AR and VR. In gaming, the overall AR/VR industry will feel a significant boost due to increasing the general consumer market.
AR for navigation and guidance
Similar to Google Maps using AR for navigation, different AR systems will be used for navigation in an application for maps and cars, airplanes, or any other vehicles. We will see AR guidance more often along with in-house navigation systems.
New industrial applications with AR and VR
AR and VR have been in use in various industries for a long time. The increase in AR/VR applications in product development and design will increase in industries. Especially in the robotics industry, AR/VR will shine through different innovative solutions like Robot Simulation services, Offline Programming, human-robot collaboration, digital twins, etc.
AR and VR in education
The education would soon focus on AR and VR trends and predictions for better educational experience and learning practices. Realism and creativity within the education sector will increase in topics hard to experience or understand through plain lectures. Also, due to the influx of digital technology due to COVID-19 educational institutions will use these technologies even more.
AR and VR in healthcare
AR and VR are proving to be pretty substantial in the healthcare industry. From various AR and VR applications, the experience of healthcare for patients will increase, but it will even enhance the whole healthcare system.
Researchers predict that the AR market in healthcare alone will cross 2.4 Billion US Dollars by 2026. It means that healthcare systems will start to use AR more increasingly. VR Training of doctors and healthcare personnel, AR/VR for patients for psychological treatment or diagnosis, VR/AR for medical practitioners for walkthroughs or checklists of any medical practices, etc. The possibilities are endless, and we will see more of them in 2022.
