The augmented reality projects that are changing the world

In 1901, writer L. Frank Baum (author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz) in his short story The Master Key: An Electrical Fairy Tale imagined an electronic display that superimposed information on the real world, called a “character marker,” a “universal key” to understanding human nature. More than a century later, the superimposition of virtual elements, images, and data on the real world is no longer science fiction but established practice in so many manufacturing and professional fields. Meta and Apple visualize elements in the real world with passthrough cameras on their flagship visors and 3D rendering technology. RealWear coi on augmented reality devices provides solutions that can optimize time and cost in multiple manufacturing sectors, becoming a competitive and key development and growth asset. Now that this technology has entered the mainstream, it is even more important for brands to understand it and grasp its value to avoid falling behind the competition. In this article we explore some of the augmented reality projects that are transforming the world as we know it, including both individual cases and an overview associated with current and projected trends for the immediate future.

2024-2025: the new frontiers of AR and immersive innovation

In the field of technological innovation, the main challenge is to figure out how to distinguish technologies that have shown real value to companies. Augmented reality (AR) today represents a winning strategy. Indeed, thanks to advances in mobile device hardware and the availability of new wearable AR visors, the market is poised for a new phase of growth. AR, from being an experimental technology, has become an integral part of many companies’ technological equipment, prompting brands to understand its value so as not to fall behind. This model shift is often referred to as a “silent revolution.” According to Skyquestt reports, the AR market, which started at $32.1 billion, will grow at a compound annual rate of 33.5 percent, to more than $300 billion by 2030.

AI and AR marriage: a powerful marriage

Artificial intelligence enhances Augmented Reality. Artificial intelligence (AI) plays a key role in AR, for example in object and surface recognition. Applications such asIkea’s app allow it to scan rooms and overlay 3D objects, while Apple’s Vision Pro leverages AI and AR to recreate digital faces for use during video calls. Text recognition is another important feature, as demonstrated by the Google Translate app. In the future, tools such as Spline could allow 3D objects to be generated through voice commands.

Mobile Augmented Reality: from games to enterprise tools

Mobile devices are the dominant platform for AR applications, ranging from games to remote support and product visualization. It is estimated that by 2024 there will be 1.7 billion mobile AR users worldwide. AR development kits, such as Google’s ARCore and Apple’s ARKit, have introduced new features, such as support for flash or the ability to capture AR video in 4K.

WebAR: more accessible experiences

Differences in mobile hardware can limit AR experiences, but WebAR allows these obstacles to be overcome. Although less powerful, it offers great accessibility: a link or QR code is all it takes to access AR experiences without installing apps. Niantic Studio has introduced support for “Gaussian splatting,” allowing realistic 3D environments to be created for WebAR.

Evolving Cross-Platform AR Applications

Developers are focusing on cross-platform AR applications to reach a wider audience. Although functionality is more limited than in native apps, a cross-platform strategy can be ideal for simple and widespread AR experiences.

Increasing use of wearable AR viewers

Apple Vision Pro and Meta Quest are two examples of AR visors entering the market. While Apple relies on well-known tools such as SwiftUI and ARKit, Meta visors offer immersive experiences at a lower cost. There is still room for growth in this area, especially in the development of gaming and learning applications.

AR for internal and external navigation

AR facilitates navigation in complex environments by overlaying on-screen 3D directions. In indoor environments, technologies such as beacons, visual markers, and VPS (Visual Positioning System)* help improve accuracy, while the use of GPS and visual positioning systems continues to improve for outdoor navigation.

Augmented Reality in Marketing

We addressed this in a recent article posted on our LinkedIn page. According to Meta, 90 percent of marketing campaigns that used AR saw an increase in brand awareness compared to traditional campaigns. AR makes it possible to create engaging experiences, as demonstrated by campaigns that leverage QR codes to show product demos or interactive guides.

Applications of Augmented Reality in Healthcare

A topic we deal with often: AR is increasingly being used in the medical field; from assisted surgery to training students and visualizing veins during needle insertion. Google has developed an “Augmented Reality Microscope” to improve cancer detection by combining AR and AI.

• Read AR case studies in medicine.

AR in retail and e-commerce

“Virtual try-on” applications are transforming retail, with brands such as Ikea and Target offering customers the chance to try products virtually. More than 53,000 patents (Source: Retail Insight Network) related to this technology have been filed in the past three years, indicating a growing trend.

 

• 3 AR case studies to watch out for.

Augmented Reality in Manufacturing

The manufacturing sector leverages AR for training, maintenance, quality control, and safety. Adopting AR in this field requires overcoming some practical challenges, but integrating head-mounted displays can provide useful information without distracting workers. Fastbrain, as a system intagrator, offers companies the assistance and training needed to successfully integrate AR into production processes.

• Learn about the case studies.
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AR in the Automotive Industry

AR has applications in the automotive industry for sales, remote assistance, car-park detection, and safety systems such as “heads-up” displays that show driving information on the windshield.

• AR case studies in the automotive sector.

The future of the metaverse and AR technologies

Although the metaverse concept has lost some momentum, the demand for social AR remains. Meta has developed Codec Avatars, which could be used in any viewer to create realistic interactions in digital worlds.

AR case studies and scientific research

The scientificarticle“Lessons Learned from Industrial Augmented Reality Applications.” * discusses the use of augmented reality (AR) and extended reality (XR) in industrial settings, presenting six use cases. Overall, it emerges how extended reality (XR), which includes Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR) and Mixed Reality (MR) is considered a disruptive technology to increase flexibility and efficiency in smart manufacturing. In industrial applications, AR tends to enhance manufacturing processes through devices such as tablets and projectors. Use cases contemplate various industrial and non-industrial sectors (automation, aerospace, medical, inspection). The future, in short, is already here and has no intention of changing course.

What it means to rely on Intelligent Assisted Reality technologies.

With Fastbrain and RealWear, customer satisfaction can be increased by making work more efficient and easier. Experts can, through smart glasses, guide, train and assist technicians in the field hands-free as they do their work. RealWear solutions support companies in every industry with the best AR smart glasses on the market, under the banner of continuous innovation and sustainability.

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Glossary:

* VPS: Visual Positioning System (VPS) is a new generation of GPS systems that use satellite signals to locate the receiver’s position on Earth. VPS can be used for various applications, including indoor and outdoor navigation, augmented reality, and autonomous vehicle tracking. *The research was supported by FTI Struktur des Landes Oberösterreich and the European Union, in cooperation with the State of Upper Austria in the Investition in Wachstum und Beschäftigung project.   References: https://mobidev.biz/blog/augmented-reality-trends-future-ar-technologies https://www.museumnext.com/article/how-museums-are-using-augmented-reality/ https://www.aritex-es.com/en/5-case-studies-augmented-reality-applied-to-industry-4-0/ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877050922003313?ref=cra_js_challenge&fr=RR-1 GeeksforGeeks.org Statista, Google, Apple Distance Technologies Cover image source: buildwithstudio.com/blog/augmented-reality-retail

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