Augmented and virtual reality are not new terms. These technologies have been around for more than a decade but over the last five years, they technologies turned a corner. Mainstream corporations leveraged the potential of AR and VR technologies and invested big bucks to integrate them into affordable hardware. And this is just the beginning. According to Allied Market Research, the global augmented and virtual reality market is expected to reach $454.73 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 40.7% from 2021 to 2030. Cost-efficient benefits of augmented and virtual reality-based solutions, expansion in the gaming industry, and a surge in penetration of smartphones in developing countries have boosted the market growth.
The two technologies are now prominent in the gaming industry but they are making their way into the education, medical, and military sectors as well. It is an exciting world that which these technologies open and has the potential to disrupt the world completely.
AR and VR technologies allow a user to experience impossible realities, live a fantasy, and offer the superpower to fight zombies, fight for your country, and even practice critical heart surgery. There is no limit when it comes to the applications of these technologies.
Applications of augmented and virtual reality
Apart from gaming, AR and VR technologies are much more than fun to play with. They are becoming vital for educational purposes. If one needs to practice or train that is dangerous or requires experience with expensive equipment, creating a simple simulation offers an experience as immersive as a real scenario. Moreover, simulation is cheap and safe. What’s more, today companies have launched a VR world where you can meet your friends and chat with your colleagues which were a life-saver during unprecedented times such as the Covid-19 pandemic.
In the healthcare sector, students now use AR and VR technologies to practice critical surgery instead of using animals or people. As stakes are lower with simulation, no one gets hurt and students can practice for an infinite amount of time till they perfect themselves. Similarly, in the military field, several training programs can be simulated with these technologies. VR technology can allow soldiers to get themselves familiarized with a combat situation, medic training, and flight simulation without putting anyone in danger.
Over the last few years, AR and VR technologies have gained importance in psychotherapy. People suffering from anxiety disorders, phobias, and traumas can use VR simulations to experience the situations that make them nervous while knowing that they are out of harm’s way.
The fashion industry has not been far behind in adopting these cutting-edge technologies. Recently, Amazon Fashion, the retail division of Amazon, Inc. launched a virtual try-on for shoes. This is an interactive mobile experience that leverages augmented reality and allows users to visualize how the pair of shoes would look from every angle from the comfort of their home and without purchasing them. Similarly, Wärtsilä Voyage, a technology group has launched Smart Realities, a cost-effective, scalable, and completely immersive AR & VR training solution exclusively for ship handling, and bridge & marine engineering applications. The technology would allow engineers to develop their skills and encounter highly realistic practical scenarios in a risk-free, virtual environment.
Future of augmented and virtual reality technologies
Keeping an eye on current technological developments, there are a few predictions we can do about AR and VR technologies. As hand detection and eye tracking are major examples of build-in technology in VR headsets, they would improve a lot more in the future. Users can control their movements without using heavy and clunky controllers and experience virtual reality on a deeper level. Moreover, the eye tracking technology would improve and offer the best resolution and image quality that would blur the lines between fiction and reality. Moreover, the systems would be more robust with reduced lag and risk of nausea.
Apart from this, there will be full-body haptic suits. Currently, we have haptic gloves that allow users to feel tough through vibrations. However, the next big thing will be haptic suits. Some companies offer full-body suits even now but they are expensive and not for everyday VR users. In the future, these body suits would become a lot more affordable, mainstream, and advanced.
Looking beyond AR and VR external accessories and systems, in the future, these technologies would integrate more with the human body. The use of AR contact lenses is just a hint of what the future could be. AR glasses will become cheaper, better, and more comfortable in the future. These lenses are already in development and would soon hit the market.
AR and VR technologies are something to keep eye on. It has been the longest wish of dreamers to teleport themselves through space and AR and VR are a means to see it in reality. In the future, these gadgets would replace smartphones, guide us in finding directions, and help us take pictures and shoot videos. The future of these technologies is unpredictable and exciting and surely essential in the development of society.
