The Best 10 Real-World Examples Of Augmented Reality

The augmented reality (AR) market is quickly catching up to virtual reality (VR), now the most popular futuristic technology. AR is becoming one of the essential parts of the tech economy.

Augmented reality (AR) can add value, solve problems, and improve the user experience in nearly every industry. That’s because augmented reality (AR) applications, headsets, and smart glasses can improve businesses across the board, from retail to heavy industry. Companies are catching on and investing more in augmented reality to help it grow.

Here are 10 of the most promising applications of augmented reality that we expect to see soon, ranging from classroom instruction to the retail industry.

What is Augmented Reality?

Augmented reality (AR) is an improved representation of the physical world created using digital visual components, sound, or other sensory stimulation supplied via technology. It is a developing trend among organizations engaged in mobile computing and, in particular, commercial apps.

Augmented reality (AR) is quickly becoming as popular as virtual reality (VR), although many people still confuse the two. So, what is the difference between virtual reality and augmented reality?

The key distinction is how AR is “layered” on top of the current world. That can take numerous forms, the most frequent of which being media like videos and pictures, as well as data that can be interacted with. To argue that augmented reality (AR) can enhance the user’s real-world experience would not be incorrect. Unlike virtual reality, augmented reality does not require a headset. Smartphones, smart glasses, and headsets are all viable delivery mechanisms for augmented reality.

The Best 10 Real-World Examples Of Augmented Reality

Augmented reality technology adds a computer-made input to a real-world environment. The real world and the augmented world can then interact with each other and be changed digitally. As augmented reality technology improves, the number of ways it can be used keeps growing. These uses can affect how we shop, play, work, and do other things. 

Let’s look at the ten best real-world examples of augmented reality.

Healthcare & Medical Training

Medical professionals can benefit from AR by having 3D digital pictures and other crucial data superimposed directly into their field of vision. To get the necessary information, surgeons won’t have to take their eyes off the operating table. Digital surgery, 3D medical imaging, and specialized operations have startups developing augmented reality technologies to assist them.

Public Safety

Nowadays, if there is an emergency, people will quickly reach for their smartphones to find out what is happening, where to go, and whether their loved ones are safe. When emergency personnel arrives at a fire or earthquake site, they must quickly assess the situation and determine which residents need assistance and how best to evacuate them. In both cases, AR shows excellent potential as a solution. Wearing AR glasses, first responders may be warned of potentially dangerous places and lead people needing help in real-time without losing situational awareness. People in danger may use AR with geolocation capabilities to find the nearest shelter or medical support.

Education

Even though technological devices like tablets and computers are standard in many schools, teachers now use augmented reality to help students learn more. Students learning about astronomy can see a complete solar system map through augmented reality.

Repair & Maintenance

Repairing and maintaining sophisticated machinery is an effective use of augmented reality in the industry. Workers tasked with fixing or maintaining complex machinery like automobile motors or MRI scanners are increasingly turning to augmented reality (AR) headsets and glasses for on-the-spot assistance, advice, and diagnostics. The growing sophistication of machine-to-machine Internet of Things technologies that can send data straight to augmented reality headsets will further strengthen this use case.

Designing 

AR is helping professionals in fields like interior design, architecture, and construction see what their finished products will look like as they work on them. Architects, engineers, and other design professionals can use headsets to step right into their buildings and spaces and see how their designs might look, and they can even make virtual changes on the spot. Using AR headset visualization, urban planners can even model how whole city layouts might look. AR technology is excellent for designing or modeling jobs that involve spatial relationships.

Tourism

With the help of augmented reality technology, travel brands can give potential visitors a more in-depth look at a place before they go there. With AR solutions, agents and sites can provide visitors with more information and directions. AR apps can help people on vacation find their way around resorts and learn about places of interest.

Business Logistics

Many aspects of logistics can benefit from AR’s potential to improve productivity and save costs. Among them are logistics, including shipping, storing, and planning the most efficient routes. 

For example, shipping company DHL has already put smart AR glasses in some of its warehouses. The glasses show workers the quickest way to find an item that needs to be shipped and pick it up from the warehouse. In today’s business world, one of the best ROI use cases is giving workers more efficient ways to do their jobs.

In-Field Support

Every day, field service professionals are deployed to fix mission-critical equipment. Today, personnel can come on-site with AR glasses or headsets to swiftly identify and correct problems. Instead of using a repair manual, staff may work hands-free to finish quicker.

Retail

As online shopping becomes more popular and physical stores lose ground, augmented reality will let customers see how items will appear in their homes before making purchases. As a result, customers will not have to second-guess anything when shopping.

Moreover, shoppers are using their phones more than ever in stores to compare prices or find out more about products they are looking at. For example, the world-famous motorcycle brand Harley-Davidson is an excellent example of a company that is taking advantage of this trend by making an augmented reality app that shoppers can use in-store. Users can look at a motorcycle they might be interested in buying in the showroom and customize it with the app to see what colors and features they like. 

Sixty percent of buyers want to use AR while shopping for furniture, which is not surprising given how difficult it has been to visualize how a piece of furniture would appear in their house. For example, IKEA is using augmented reality to let shoppers imagine their purchases in their homes before buying them.

Entertainment

The gaming grounds are transitioning from virtual spheres to real-life experiences, where gamers can undertake real-life activities to play. Augmented reality (AR) makes this possible, allowing for improved gaming experiences.

Through augmented reality, people can now take an active role in the presentation rather than just watching it. Augmented reality makes the display more exciting and interactive by merging the physical and digital worlds.

With the help of the Infinite VR franchise business model, you have the opportunity to run your business in between the actual and imagined worlds that augmented reality provides. InfiniteVR offers you a proven business model that enables you to manage your own business and makes it possible for you to become a part of entertainment in augmented reality. Become our partner now!