As tech giants such as Apple and Microsoft continue to bring new developments to the technological table, AR infused eyewear is just the beginning of the future of the digital landscape. With smart glasses transforming the way we interact with the world around us, it’s no surprise that tech experts are excited about an augmented reality, determined to change how we buy, sell and communicate online.
What is AR?
Augmented Reality is the process of experiencing the real world with digital enhancements layered on top. Using a stylish eyeglasses design, smart spectacles allow computer-generated information to transform the world around us, for a newly digitalised future. Using smartphones or tablets to deliver the projection of data, these 3D immersive glasses project CGI directly in front of our eyes, overlaying clever images on top of our surroundings.
(Image Source: Statista)
The yet untapped potential of AR infused eyewear is set to soar over the coming years according to experts, with sales in smart glasses predicted to increase by 25 million in 2022 in comparison to 2018. With large tech developments such as Apple Glasses preparing to drop, it’s time to see just how much of an impact this technological phenomenon will have on the future generation of digital natives.
3D Computing
Gone are the days of 2D interfaces, scrolling screens and restricted viewpoints. AR infused eyewear is set to transform computing as we know, thanks to its ability to project data in a third dimension. Imagine the office of the future. Rather than being tied to a desk, corporate professionals could enjoy, standing, walking, even running while completing their work.
With the data surrounding you in an immersive experience made up of digital layers, the introduction of smart eyewear could be the all-in-one computer solution. Future tech-based workers could see anything from browser windows to editing programs and data spreadsheets in 3D, retiring the need for bulky hardware to perform corporate tasks.
Visual Search
Visual search could also transform the way we search for information online, all made possible by the introduction of smart eyewear. Experts predict that wearers will be able to flick through search images with simple hand/eye motions and will even be able to input data from their surroundings into the search bar.
As AR takes off, digital natives could see interactive billboards and advertisements alongside easy photographic features that allow them to take pictures with their smart eyewear and input that data into an image search on their smartphones.
Immersive Education
Another area currently being revolutionised by the addition of AR is the education sector. In fact, according to a recent study, education is predicted to be the 4th largest sector for VR/AR investors. With AR infused eyewear entering the classroom, students will see a more interactive learning space that is able to mimic a realistic version of reality, and education professions will see a more engaged class that are able to learn faster and put their digital native brains to the test.
Using AR-infused E-learning applications that play out 3D examples of concepts talked about in class, smart eyewear will be able to capture the image of real-life objects and scenarios and provide a detailed description of the learning process. This allows students to take their learning outside of the classroom and experience the lessons in the real world.
Better still, with many students learning from home post-pandemic, AR learning is making the classroom accessible for all. Replacing textbook learning with a mobile digital future will make education accessible to many more.
Magic Marketing
One of the biggest changes a digitalised population could see is the introduction of AR infused marketing, or as we like to call it ‘magic marketing’. With experts from Goldman Sachs predicting an $80 billion pound market for augmented reality by 2025, much of this revenue will be driven by marketing campaigns from a diverse range of sectors. From the fashion industry using smart eyewear to allow the customer to view a digitalised version of themselves in clothing, to real estate allowing customers to see property renovations in real-time thanks to digital layering, the possibilities are endless.
With more and more people shopping from home and 80% of millennials currently looking to buy their first home, business leaders recognise that the future is tech-savvy, making AR eyewear just the beginning of a new marketing revolution.
Telemedicine
The corporate and education sectors are not the only ones benefiting from the introduction of AR smart glasses. Healthcare and its telemedical revolution will be at the forefront of the smart-glasses revolution.
Not only do VR and AR offer a more realistic training scenario for junior doctors and medical students, but experts suggest that they are also improving diagnostics too. AR eyeglasses are able to bring up electronic medical records on demand, alongside making it easier for overseas professionals to assist the diagnostic process. With the help of AR infused technology, practitioners from miles away are able to assist patient diagnosis in real-time and see projections of patient data in front of their eyes while conferencing with other specialists. This addition will save doctors time and effort, improving the diagnostic process as a whole.
Looking To The Future
For the tech-savvy and the growing digital native population, AR infused eyewear can’t come quick enough. With a recent DigiTimes Report predicting a 2021 release for Apple’s AR glasses, the wait may be over. Will we see a technological revolution immediately? Probably not. Can we hope for amazing changes to the digital world in the future? Definitely.