Augmented Reality: The Gold Rush Begins

Pokemon Go started the Augmented reality gold rush. For years, people have been waiting to see how the augmented reality will hit it off. Once Pokemon Go was released, everybody knew that the money lies in AR. In the following paragraphs, we will try to provide answers to what AR is, what the difference between AR and VR is, what the advantages of AR are and what AR gold rush implies.

WHAT IS AR?

Augmented reality is a branch of the extended reality which you can also read about on our site. It represents the experience where two realities get mixed. A perfect example of AR is Pokemon Go, even though it is not the first AR app. AR apps have existed for a long time, such as Snapchat; however, it is with Pokemon Go that they became popular. For many people, it is a childhood dream come true to have your favorite cartoon characters in front of you just by looking through the display on your phone. This is why augmented reality is becoming increasingly popular.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VR AND AR?

Both virtual reality and augmented reality are branches of extended reality, and they alter our perception of the world. However, there are a lot of differences between the two. Virtual reality uses computer reality to create a simulated environment. You put on your headset and you enter a virtual world that does not mix in any way with the real world. You become blind to the current world around you. On the other hand, augmented reality uses technology to add digital information on an image existing in the current world. You look through your display and you see something that does not exist in the real world. In augmented reality you are not blind to the world around you, you see both the real world and the virtual world.

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF AR?

Augmented reality has a lot of advantages. Firstly, since it can help the consumers visualize the product, it can increase sales. For example, if you want to buy a dress online, you would definitely prefer seeing how it really looks. Secondly, it enriches the content. This means that it provides additional information in real time in a specific environment. For instance, if you are on a sightseeing tour, augmented reality can provide some useful information about the site. Finally, augmented reality makes the business or brand more popular. Users love technological innovations, so if you use new technology such as augmented reality, you will attract more clients and make your business more popular.

AR GOLD RUSH

The advantages of the augmented reality have led to the beginning of the augmented reality gold rush. Since Pokemon Go and Snapchat, many companies have developed their own AR apps. For example, Apple has developed Apple Watch and Gen 2 AirPods which when combined can put smartphones aside. In addition, many companies have created smart glasses and other AR devices. As the popularity of AR grows, the leading companies are fighting to create AR devices that will move consumers from smartphones to AR devices.