Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality are already disrupting the way humans interact, both in-person and over different mediums. Both AR and VR have been around for some time but after a number of false starts, finally seem ready for prime time in at least five sectors:
With VR, people can dive into the other side of the screen where they can experience an entirely new world from a different perspective. And with AR, games and entertainment are superimposed onto the environs of a person’s home, bringing the virtual world into the real one. People will no longer have to leave the confines of their homes to experience a game, movie or concert as the technological brings all this directly to their living room.
To add to the online shopping experience, retailers now look to add virtual showrooms where customers can try on and accessories in a virtual environment, and view 3D models wearing the products in real time. This creates entirely new channels while also enhancing customer experience, making it a key tool for the retail industry.
The healthcare industry has been an early adopter of this technology. The application of AR apps has been constantly evolving. Already, they are being used to help patients identify their symptoms and even demonstrate how medical devices work. In addition, the convergence of VR, gaming technologies and medical imaging methods gives physicians the ability to look at a digital twin of a patient’s organs in a non-invasive manner.
With the help of AR/VR, prospective buyers and renters will no longer have to be content with just looking at pictures on real estate portals. They can step into the virtual house of their choice and navigate through the surroundings to get a good look-and-feel of the property before ever making an actual visit.
Digital prototypes of work sites can help engineers and architects to construct the facilities and also maintain safe zones, especially in dangerous locations such as mining areas. VR/AR can also be used as a training tool for employees to mimic real-life scenarios in the workplace, such as emergency drills and/or production related situations.