Why Augmented Reality Will Change The Game In 2016
Imagine a world where you can experience attending a football game or a concert without actually being there – and in real-time! This is possible through Augmented Reality (AR), which is expected to be one of the biggest tech trends in 2016.
If you’re not sure what Augmented Reality is, Mashable explains it as a live, direct or indirect view of a physical, real-world environment whose elements are augmented by computer-generated sensory input such as sound, video, graphics or GPS data. Unlike Virtual Reality, which replaces the real world with a simulated one, Augmented Reality is in real-time.
Though Augmented Reality has been around for a long time, the invention did not previously take off due to the high costs of AR products. But now big corporations such as Google, Microsoft, Apple and Facebook have identified the potential opportunities presented by the technology and have invested heavily in it.
Microsoft is set to release its HoloLens in early 2016 and Facebook has tapped into the Augmented Reality market with its $2 billion acquisition of Oculus Virtual Reality in 2014. Apple too has made strategic moves towards Augmented Reality - read this article to learn more about Apple’s AR plans.
With the rapid growth of smartphone usage and the advent of smart, connected products and wearables, it is now getting increasingly easy to engage with Augmented Reality content. A report from Semico Research predicts that revenues related to AR will hit $600 billion by 2016.
Marketers are already making use of this technology as a way to heighten their product experiences and increase ROI by creating brand awareness and increased engagement. Here are some great examples of retailers using Augmented Reality to enhance the shopping experience:
According to the Augmented Reality app Blippar, AR has been predicted to be one of the fastest-growing markets globally over the next five years and Blippar itself has over 50 million global users. No longer seen as a futuristic concept, Augmented Reality is a trend that is only just beginning and the full potential of the technology will be seen in the next few years.
What do you think of Augmented Reality? Tell us your thoughts on @futurebanter or email me at tania@wearefutureheads.co.uk. I would love to hear your views on this.