Augmented Reality (AR) is widely anticipated to be one of the next major advancements in consumer technology. Some key reasons why AR is expected to have a significant impact in the coming years:
1. Rapid improvements in hardware capabilities: Smartphone cameras, sensors, and processing power have advanced to the point where high-quality AR experiences are possible on mainstream mobile devices. Dedicated AR headsets are also becoming more affordable and capable.
2. Increasing adoption by major tech companies: Apple, Google, Microsoft, and others have heavily invested in AR platforms and are rolling out AR features across their products and services. This will drive wider ecosystem support and developer adoption.
3. The emergence of killer AR applications: While early AR has been mostly novelty and gimmicks, there are signs that practical, everyday use cases are starting to emerge, such as in retail, gaming, education, and enterprise productivity.
4. Potential for transformative user experiences: By overlaying digital information and interactivity onto the physical world, AR has the potential to fundamentally change how we interact with and perceive our environment, opening up new possibilities for how we work, learn, and are entertained.
However, challenges still exist around technical limitations, content development, and user acceptance. Despite this, the trajectory of technology and the investment from major players suggest AR is poised to be one of the next big frontiers in computing and consumer tech in the coming decade.
AR devices are heading in the right direction, moving towards untethered head-worn glasses. They are set to be the next big thing because they can overcome smartphone limitations:
1. Hands-free operation: AR devices allow users to interact with virtual content without having to hold a physical device, potentially improving productivity.
2. Seamless blending of virtual content into the real world: Users have the ability to interact with virtual information while remaining aware of their physical surroundings. This has the potential to enhance real-life experiences with tech devices rather than separate them.
For example, navigation apps that use AR:
This type of User Interface paradigm shift is computing done right, particularly evident in features like "turn-by-turn" navigation (e.g., Google Maps). AR devices also enable hands-free phone calls, music listening, voice assistants, ChatGPT, Translation, and other everyday tasks. If AR continues to address users' needs and solve problems effectively, it has the potential to be the next big thing.