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Hi there! As a software expert, I‘m often asked what are some real-world examples of using augmented reality technology today and what benefits does it offer. So in this detailed guide, I‘ll be covering the top applications of AR across sectors with lots of specific examples.
Let‘s first understand what augmented reality is at a technical level.
What is augmented reality and how does it work?
Augmented reality (AR) refers to overlaying computer-generated graphics, audio and other sensory information onto the real world, thereby enhancing our perception of reality.
Unlike VR that creates an entirely virtual environment, AR supplements the real environment with digital elements. It works by:
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Capturing live views of the physical realm via cameras on AR devices
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Detecting the environment and positioning of visual sensors through technologies like GPS, digital compasses, depth sensors etc.
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Generating contextually relevant digital information based on the environment
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Overlaying the digital artefacts accurately over the live camera feed of the real world through sophisticated rendering techniques
When done right, the digital elements appear natural to the context and setting the user is in, blending realities. The user can then interact with both physical and virtual objects seamlessly.
Now that we know what fuels AR experiences, let‘s look at state of AR adoption.
Current State of Augmented Reality Industry
- Global AR market valued at $15.3 billion in 2020
- Expected to grow to over $77 billion by 2025 at CAGR of 43.8% (Statista)
- Over 1.5 billion AR-compatible smartphones and tablets in use globally today
- Projected that over 85% of mobile apps will use AR by 2025 (Gartner)
Surveys also indicate 60% of businesses are currently testing or deploying AR/VR solutions showing extremely rapid mainstream adoption.
These numbers signal that AR is primed to make a massive impact across industries. Let‘s see how it applies in the real world.
Retail and eCommerce
Retailers like IKEA and Amazon are using AR mobile apps to let you visualize true-to-scale 3D models of products in your living space before you purchase. This provides realistic previews that boost confidence in buying.
IKEA Place: IKEA‘s free app for iOS and Android uses your phone‘s camera and Apple‘s ARKit / Google‘s ARCore technology to map your environment. You can then easily place 3D models of thousands of IKEA products like furniture, decor and see them in context. You can walk around life-size rendered products, check fit, design layouts and more.
This creates an amazing browsing experience converting shoppers into buyers. 98% of surveyed users said they were likely to buy a product seen in AR after placing it in their home. Over 2 million products have been AR viewed totalling to over 110 million placements!
[IKEA mobile app AR screenshot]
Amazon AR View: Similar to IKEA, the Amazon app taps into ARCore on Android phones and ARKit on iPhones to offer AR view for placing products. But while IKEA is limited to their own range, Amazon has over 1,00,000 products across categories eligible for AR preview from electronics like TVs to patio furniture. Just tap the camera icon on product listings.
Likewise, apps from Wayfair, Target, Walmart also let you visualize furniture, accessories in 3D AR overlays.
Clearly, AR is helping ecommerce brands demonstrate product viability better, tangibly improving conversion rates and sales.
Technical Details
Under the hood, these apps use environmental mapping capability provided by ARCore and ARKit SDKs to understand the user‘s surroundings. The signed distance field and occlusion techniques realistically render product shadows and lighting effects making the 3D models look natural in the environment.
Target tracking and surface estimation by the AR SDKs allow placing items on floors, walls etc. accurately. The digital models are sliced dynamically based rendering demands of the mobile device CPU and GPU for smooth performance.
Education
AR is revolutionizing education from K-12 to higher studies by enabling interactive 3D visualization of objects, scenes and data that are hard to grasp from conventional 2D mediums. Students better connect with digital subject material merged with the real-world.
There are over 700+ AR/VR education apps on iOS and Android today spanning multiple disciplines like:
Anatomy Learning
Human Anatomy Atlas (iOS/Android): Uses detailed 3D anatomical models that students can view at life-size AR overlays on themselves and peers to get an unparalleled look inside organs, muscles, bones etc. far better than cadavers or books. Amazing for med school candidates.
Essential Anatomy 5 (iOS): Shows intricate anatomy in AR by projecting body parts using Apple‘s ARKit and overlaying key facts. Teachers can also use the built-in lesson editor.
[AR anatomy mobile app screenshot]
Chemistry Visualization
Elements 4D (iOS/Android): Projects interactive 3D chemistry models that can be touched and rotated with fingers to see atoms, ions and more. Visualizes element reactions by placing paper elements in a real scene.
Astronomy Exploration
Star Walk 2 (iOS/Android): An AR star map app that identifies constellations, planets etc. pointed at from your phone. Just hold up towards the sky and it will reveal celestial objects with info.
Unimersiv (iOS/Android): Educational VR/AR platform that lets students explore geography, history and more immersively. Like the Explore International Space Station AR module takes you inside a 3D ISS with interactive modules.
The benefits are tangible – learning gets more interactive, practical and fun. Over 68% of teachers surveyed see marked improvement in student performance using AR. The global AR/VR education market also balloons at over 65% CAGR.
Technical Details
Many of the complex AR interactions in education apps leverage SceneKit on iOS and ARCore Sceneform SDK on Android. Content is built using 3D design tools like Blender, Unity and infused with metadata tags.
The AR SDKs track where the mobile camera is pointing and maps surfaces like desk, floors etc to accurately anchor digital objects. Rendering incorporates lighting physics for realistic shadows and reflections as if the 3D asset exists physically.
Manufacturing
AR headsets which allow working hands-free are finding widespread enterprise adoption in manufacturing and field service scenarios. Warehouse pickers, assemblers and technicians use AR glasses that visually overlays task instructions and projections right before their eyes.
This guides them to find parts faster, rapidly assemble components and service equipment better. Below are some examples:
Boeing (Aerospace): Producing airplanes involves routing and bundling miles of wire through plane fuselages. AR headsets like Hololens display wireframe diagrams matching sections workers look at to simplify layout and drastically speed up production time.
Volvo (Automotive): Lets technicians visualize complex service instructions and diagrams overlaid on actual vehicles and parts. They can tap and zoom 3D content while keeping hands free, with info following their view.
Siemens (Industrial): Their AR graphical interface displays important metrics like temperature, pressure etc. floating over corresponding industrial machines and alerts users when thresholds hit danger levels. Helps prevent breakdowns.
The above use cases demonstrate AR‘s effectiveness – Boeing improved wiring production by 40% in early testing while Siemens cut customer equipment breakdowns by nearly 70%!
According to PTC‘s State of Industrial AR Insights 2022 report, over 60% of industrial companies agree AR solutions are pivotal to gain competitive advantage. With machines getting more complex, AR will be key to simplify interfacing with them.
Technical Details
Industrial AR apps tap into capabilities from devices like Microsoft HoloLens, RealWear headsets etc. They employ a range of sensors for mapping like structured light 3D depth cameras along with IMUs and cameras to orient content accurately.
Spatial anchoring frameworks like HoloLens 1‘s world tracking let users manually place and store digital objects in physical locations that stay fixed even in future app sessions unless moved.
With HoloLens 2, Azure Spatial Anchors syncs anchors across devices so multiple people can interact with the same holograms. Scene understanding via deep learning better detects surfaces, occlusion and lighting physics too.
Additonal Examples
Beyond the above sectors, AR drives growth in areas like tourism through interactive city guides and hidden treasure trails, fitness via heads-up run/bike metrics projection, facial makeovers for virtual cosmetics trials and even helps bullfighters train against virtual bulls!
The use cases span entertainment, marketing, construction, healthcare, automotive, design and more. AR is blending realities to enhance how we work, shop and play everyday.
As sensors, displays and speech interfaces improve and mwachine learning gets infused into augmented reality, we‘ll keep encountering AR seamlessly elevating our physical world much like the mobile internet revolution of the early 2000s or dawn of 2D GUI interfaces. An exciting frontier awaits ahead!