In recent years, augmented reality (AR) has become a buzzword across different industries. From gaming and entertainment to healthcare and education, AR has paved its way into a wide range of applications and shown a promise of being an innovative technology that will shape the future. However, many people are still unaware of what AR is and what possibilities it holds. In this article, we will explore 10 real-world examples of augmented reality and how it is being used across different sectors.
1. Education
AR has been gaining popularity in education, especially in science classrooms. It enables students to visualize complex topics, such as the solar system or human anatomy, in an interactive and engaging way. Many companies have created AR-based tools to make learning more exciting, such as QuiverVision’s educational coloring books or AugThat’s AR sandbox, which demonstrates topography and hydrology to students.
2. Retail
AR is slowly transforming the retail industry. It can create a more personalized and interactive shopping experience for customers. For example, IKEA’s Place app allows customers to ‘place’ virtual furniture in their home to see what it looks like before they buy it. Sephora’s Virtual Artist app allows customers to try on makeup virtually and see how it looks on them.
3. HealthCare
AR is being used in healthcare to improve patient care, as well as medical training and education. For example, AccuVein’s AR device helps doctors and nurses locate veins quickly and accurately. Medical Realities, an AR healthcare training company, use AR to simulate surgeries and train medical professionals.
4. Entertainment
AR has already proven its potential in the entertainment industry through games like Pokemon GO and Ingress Prime. It enables users to immerse themselves in a virtual world that is responsive to the real-world environment. However, AR is also being explored for use in live events such as concerts and sporting events, where AR can enhance the user’s experience.
5. Advertising
AR has revolutionized the advertising industry by enabling companies to create 3D ads that appear in the user’s environment. Examples include the McDonald’s AR ad campaign, where customers can scan a QR code to see a 3D burger appear on their table.
6. Manufacturing
AR is also being used by manufacturing companies to reduce errors and improve efficiency. For example, HydraForce, an industrial valve manufacturer, uses AR to overlay virtual instructions onto their workstations, making assembly much smoother.
7. Real Estate
AR is transforming the real estate industry by enabling customers to see how a property looks and feels before they visit it. AR apps like Magic Plan enable users to create a virtual floor plan of a property through their smartphone camera.
8. Military
AR is being used by the military to improve situational awareness and enhance training simulations. For example, the US Army uses the Tactical Augmented Reality system (TAR), which overlays information such as maps and compasses on soldiers’ goggles.
9. Tourism
AR has been used by tourism companies to enhance tourist experiences. For example, the Heritage Museum in Hong Kong uses AR to give visitors an interactive tour of the facility.
10. Art
Finally, AR is being used by artists to create augmented reality installations that can take place in real-world locations. For example, Amazed by Science in the UK created a series of AR installations linking science and art.
In conclusion, AR technology has a wide range of applications in different industries. Its versatility makes it an exciting prospect for businesses and developers. As AR continues to improve, it’s likely we’ll see even more real-world examples pop up in the future.
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