Augmented Reality: Current State and Future Implications

Introduction

Augmented reality (AR) has become a common buzzword in modern society, particularly in the field of technology. This concept of overlaying computerized information on the real world is increasingly finding its place in the market through mobile devices. For people who use mobile devices for everyday activities, augmented reality enables them to experience a reality shaped by their own desires and needs. It has reshaped the experiences of people across the globe as technology continues to play an important role in modern communications and interactions between individuals from different geographical locations. Augmented reality is therefore expected to have a significant impact on the future, given its current state and its growing influence on people's realities and on society as a whole.

Current State of Augmented Reality

The field of augmented reality and virtual reality has experienced tremendous growth and evolution in recent years and is expected to continue expanding rapidly. However, augmented reality appears to be evolving more quickly than virtual reality (Singh, par. 1). One of the defining trends in the current state of AR is the increased adoption of AR devices for commercial and enterprise solutions. Industries such as manufacturing, aerospace, and logistics are increasingly adopting augmented reality technology for their daily operations. Augmented reality systems and applications have become common in the modern business environment because of their unique features that help advance business operations. These applications and systems provide new learning opportunities for businesses, which in turn encourages their use as solutions for improving operational efficiency (Wu et al., p. 41).

Augmented reality presents a compelling business scenario because of its advantages over virtual reality. In its current state, the adoption and use of AR systems and applications is relatively straightforward compared to virtual reality, which is more complex because it is designed within three-dimensional artificial landscapes. Augmented reality makes for a strong business case because its adoption essentially involves overlaying existing environments with additional digital information.

The field is also currently characterized by the development of a wide variety of AR devices and applications designed to help users experience augmented reality through mobile devices and headsets. Several augmented reality headsets are available in the market with differing capabilities to suit users' needs, including Microsoft's HoloLens and Facebook's Oculus VR headset. Leading app development companies are increasingly incorporating augmented reality features into their applications for different purposes, particularly in retail and the gaming industry (Thomas, par. 7).

Companies Involved in the AR Space

Given the increased development of AR devices and applications, they are being utilized across different educational and commercial fields. In education, a growing number of medical students use augmented reality for surgical practice in controlled environments. For patients, AR enables them to obtain information regarding their medical conditions more easily. The increased use of augmented reality in the medical field has enhanced the sensory perception capabilities of surgeons and reduced the risk associated with operations. In the tourism industry, AR is used to enable tourists to easily view and read facts and figures as they visit and navigate historic sites. AR technology is also utilized by the military across various settings, such as training facilities for simulation purposes and for analyzing critical data including the precise location of adversaries. Additionally, augmented reality devices and applications are used for navigation through integration with GPS systems (Thomas, par. 18).

As noted above, augmented reality has gained significant attention in the business world and across various industries including logistics and manufacturing. Given its compelling business case, AR has been adopted by various companies seeking enhanced operations and the achievement of strategic objectives. Some of the companies currently involved in this space include Microsoft, Google, and Apple. These companies have been involved in the creation of augmented reality systems and applications that allow customers to experience enriched realities based on their needs. Microsoft has created the HoloLens device, which enables users to interact with digitally created objects in the real world. Google has created the Google Glass AR device, while Apple has announced plans to develop a wearable augmented reality device (Singh, par. 20). In addition to these major players, a growing number of top app development firms — such as Magic Leap — are increasingly embracing the concept of augmented reality applications. As a result of these initiatives, the augmented reality space is heating up with enhanced competition and the rapid development of AR solutions for the business world.

Conclusion

Augmented reality has emerged as a common buzzword in the modern world, particularly in the field of technology. This concept continues to have significant impacts on today's society given its increased adoption and widespread use. In light of its current state, augmented reality is expected to become a common feature of business operations in the future and to create an environment where people depend on its devices and applications for daily life activities. However, the increased use of AR devices and applications will also give rise to a society where people have weakened interpersonal relationship skills and must contend with new and serious security and safety concerns.