2018 is for sure the year where emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, virtual reality or augmented reality are getting solid technologies for market usage. The opportunities for Augmented Reality are getting popular and widely adopted in many industries. Read today more about the market opportunities.

Virtual reality can be described in a simplified way as placing you in a virtual world that’s disconnected from reality. While augmented reality (AR), sits further along the scale. It allows presenting an overlay on the real world like projecting digital images to augment an actual view or information which is key on a visual presentation. It is no wonder that this type of technology has its routes from the military R&D labs. Augmented displays for jet pilots are today standard and help them to focus on a single point where all sources get consolidated.

In civil aviation, we can see also the first adoption of the same technology. In vehicles, we can see augmented displays into the windshield displaying speed information or maps for navigation. We see more and more opportunities for Augmented Reality in 2018 then ever before.

It is even getting more largely carried out with the help of smartphones, tablets, or laptops. But the future outlook, as imagined in this infographic by Vexels, could include AR technology embedded in glasses or contact lenses.

Looking back at its history, actor Robert Downey Jr was the cover star for the technology’s first foray into print media. We experienced recently, Nintendo’s Pokémon Go dominated the AR headlines. However, beyond gaming and entertainment, there are some compelling augmented reality use cases for brands and businesses.

200 million users by 2018 are predicted to use this technology, it’s not unrealistic to envisage augmented reality becoming part of the fabric of everyday digital experience.

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Virtual reality is about the immersive experience for the user, whereas AR is about presenting information to the user. It offers a great opportunity to extend instructional processes, for example. When Boeing factory employees were asked to assemble a mock aeroplane wing, those following AR-animated instructions on tablets were 90% more accurate and 30% quicker than another team which was using PDFs.

Processes which require information can benefit from the visual overlay and justifies the usage of the technology: imagine consumers can simulate a new kitchen design over their existing layout; or in the retail business where consumer can try on clothes in a virtual dressing room; or in schooling where students can watch images in a medical textbook come to life in 3D to create a more accurate experience. These are only a view existing examples of AR in action. With a projected 200 million users by 2018, it’s not unrealistic to envisage augmented reality becoming part of the fabric of everyday digital experience.

Read more in the below infographic about Opportunities for Augmented Reality and see what the future is holding ready for us. Share your experience with AR with your peers. Use our commenting section below.