Augmented reality (AR) describes technology that superimposes digital images and video on top of real-world scenes. Virtual reality (VR), most often facilitated through high-tech headsets, conversely describes technology that can immerse you in computer-generated 3D worlds and adventures. But as many uses as we’re seeing for these advancements in the entertainment, media, and video game spaces, don’t forget that such innovations also have the power to drive big wins for enterprises in a multitude of other spaces as well.
For example: Architecture, design, and engineering firms (like manufacturers and distributors) can use this technology to model cars, computers, buildings, trucks, and more with the simple wave of a hand, even as hospitality, hotel, and medical providers are leveraging it to provide remote site tours, simulated customer service training, and professional education. Likewise, field service technicians in a variety of spaces are also capitalizing on AR and VR upgrades to more easily communicate with colleagues from a distance, or access automated and artificial intelligence powered virtual aides when checking and servicing equipment. One aircraft manufacturer has already equipped its entire maintenance staff with these headsets, while on the flip side, a pharmaceutical and biomedicine leader is instead using these tools to enable touchless control of devices in its laboratories. Of course, these types of innovations are just the beginning for the AR and VR fields too: Technology leaders tell me that plans are already underway to offer enterprises in every field plug-and-play toolkits that let businesses create their own forward-thinking augmented or virtual reality apps on the fly sans programming knowledge too.
No matter if you’re in the consumer or B2B space, and the scale at which you operate, VR and AR solutions have the potential to help you achieve myriad design breakthtoughs while cutting costs and improving efficiency. They likewise offer a high-tech alternative to traditional workforce training and upskilling methods. Project a few years forward, and it’s easy to see why – regardless of whether you’ve grabbed a pair of goggles or futuristic headset for home use – the future will soon belong to augmented and virtual reality technology.