Although gamers are no doubt looking forward to the next installment to be provided by augmented reality technology to enhance their experience, the science behind it is set to have a much greater impact on our lives; in fact it may even shape the way our lives progress.Indeed the industry is tipped to become big business. Semico Research has recently conducted a study and from the results it is predicted that by 2017 the revenue generated by the augmented reality industry will amount to at least $600 million.
The same study has also shown that next year around 864 million mobile phones will be ready to make use of augmented reality, not to mention the technology which will be available 100 million vehicles. So what benefits might be around the corner and what might its limitations be?
Many positives for augmented reality applications.
A range of sectors and industries as well as their customers are likely to gain from advances in augmented reality technology. Examples include:• Firstly, augmented reality might be able to help those who currently have vision defects, as the technology can adjust the way that images appear and therefore improve their clarity. One example is color blindness, which affects around 7% of males, where their ability to distinguish red from green will be significantly aided.
Another is altered depth perception, which occurs when the sight is lost in one eye; the use of augmented reality technology is able to replicate the process carried out by two eyes. However, owing to its novelty, whether augmented reality might have a negative impact on eyesight is not yet understood.
• In healthcare, it is expected that diagnoses will be aided by devices such as a Glove Tricorder; various sensors can help to detect internal medical conditions such as cancer, helping to reduce the time it takes for patients to receive a confirmation of their problem and to start the necessary treatment.
• Use of Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) technology may at present sound more like a gimmick, but it is hoped that shortly it will have some useful applications. For instance, those students studying history or archaeology will be able to interact with the past through augmented reality simulations.
Another use, which may provide an even greater benefit from SLAM, is for patients who will be undergoing extensive surgery; visualization can be used to help those patients who have heightened anxiety about the procedures they are to have.
• Tourism will benefit from the use of geo-locative media, as visitors using the technology will be able to access relevant information that will allow them to navigate around sites of interest, as well as learning more about their history for instance.
• Using augmented reality to generate enhanced print media will provide huge value to the likes of textbooks, instruction manuals and other step by step guides, providing a boost to the publishing sector.
In manufacturing workers will be able to simply follow augmented reality manuals, which will make assembly and repairs much easier to complete and will potentially bring with it cost savings.
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• The experience of shopping will be taken to a whole new level, encouraging more people to leave their home and head to the high street, increasing retail profits. Extra information will be available to consumers about the products they are considering to purchase; in the grocery store when looking at a particular food item, information about how it can be cooked including specific recipes may appear.
• The military may also make use of augmented reality for applications such as the use of remote devices which employ heads up systems.
• Augmented reality is already being used by a number of artists and its expansion within the arts is expected to soar.
Downsides to augmented reality
Whilst many great ideas for the use of augmented reality have been suggested, it isn’t without its problems:• The technology has been very slow to progress, as while there are currently various novel applications, it is struggling to reach more functional areas despite all the ideas that have been suggested for these. To some it is still nothing more than a gimmick and they see it merely as hype rather than something that will actually change the future.
• Concerns have been raised that it will be difficult to meet the necessary production standards for products to perform satisfactorily and like other areas of technology, faced with so many products to choose from - which on the face of it look similar - consumers can’t distinguish between one that is average and exceptional.
The market will also be so fragmented that problems are anticipated to arise in relation to litigation surrounding locations and intellectual property rights.
• Although augmented reality is currently device-based using technology such as tablets and mobile phones, it is expected to move swiftly towards wearable headwear. Its critics have suggested this will lead to enhanced surveillance in jails and other secure facilities, where residents aren’t just watched by cameras, but have their senses controlled and even altered.
• The opponents of augmented reality have also cited the invasion of our privacy as a potential problem, as in world where we are already bombarded with information, this new technology leaves us vulnerable to unsolicited adverts and data overload. It certainly has the potential to be misused.
• There could additionally be an increase in the number of accidents that occur due to our over-reliance on devices rather than using out own senses and repetitive strain injuries are likely to become increasingly common.
• Technology is often blamed for taking away the human element from interactions and augmented reality will see this problem deepen. The use of this in the area of medicine could have a significant negative impact on doctor-patient relations.
Whether you support the advances of augmented reality technology or not, it is easy to imagine how it might change our lives for the better. If the leaders within the augmented reality industry take responsible steps when recognizing its potential and turning this into a reality, the benefits to individuals and businesses alike could be huge.
ClaireAbout the Guest Author:
Claire writes extensively about technology and it's likely impact on our lives.