What to Expect from Augmented Reality in the Years to Come
What are your current feelings in regards to augmented reality? Do you have big plans for using this technology in the future? Do you have any idea of what to expect from augmented reality technology in the years to come? Augmented reality is in its infancy. Even so, the industry is growing at a fast rate. If you don’t believe this to be true, here’s a statistic shared by Statista: “In 2020, the augmented and virtual reality market is expected to reach a market size of 143.3 billion U.S. dollars.” This is even more interesting when you consider the fact that the current market size is somewhere in the $6.1 billion range (as of 2016). With all this in mind, you may be more excited than ever about seeing how the augmented reality industry develops over the next handful of years. Here are some things that you should expect to see: 1. More Companies Getting Involved While it’s hard to say what’s to come in regards to a particular market, there is the reason to believe that augmented reality startups will continue to be the next big thing.
Entrepreneurs are realizing that augmented reality is hot, and this is leading them to better understand how they can get involved. Don’t be surprised if hundreds upon hundreds of augmented reality companies get their start over the next year. 2. Technology for Consumers and Businesses To date, many of the most popular augmented reality apps are for individual use, such as by consumers. While consumer augmented reality technology will continue to grow, you can expect the same in the business world. Companies are always looking for new ways to boost efficiency and productivity. There is the reason to believe that augmented reality could be the answer. 3. Adoption by More People When new technology first makes its way to market, some people are shy about getting involved. Think about smartphones and tablets. Sure, there were people who were excited about these devices early on, but there were many others who didn’t understand why the technology was such a big deal. This is exactly what we are seeing right now with augmented reality. The early adopters are out in full force, but the majority of people are taking a “wait and see” approach. They know that augmented reality is growing in popularity, but they aren’t ready to take the leap just yet. With each passing year, the adoption of augmented reality by more people will become apparent. This is what will drive the growth of the market (as noted above). 4. More Equipment to Choose From Right now, there isn’t an overabundance of augmented reality equipment to choose from. There are some items out there, but not so much that you will be taken aback. This is all set to change in the future, as more and more companies put time and money into developing high-quality augmented reality equipment. According to Statista, augmented reality hardware device shipments will reach nearly 65 million units by 2020. So, if you are not blown away by your options right now, give it some time. As the market grows, so will the equipment that is available. 5. Do it All from Your Smartphone
While there are sure to be people who buy up as much augmented reality equipment as they can afford, others will sit back and realize they can get involved with nothing more than the help of their smartphone. There are already a large number of iOS and Android apps that give you a glimpse into what augmented reality can do for you. You can expect more of these to be developed in the months and years to come. Conclusion Just the same as any industry, there is no way of knowing what to expect from augmented reality in the years to come. However, it’s clear to see that big-time growth is on the horizon. If you are not yet turning your attention to augmented reality, you should think about learning more in the near future. Soon enough, you won’t be able to ignore this technology any longer. What are your thoughts on augmented reality and the way this technology will change your life and the world as a whole? Share your thoughts and experiences to date in the comment section below.