Augmented Reality in 2021

The pandemic ruined many things but made 2020 one of the most productive years of augmented reality development for sure. Now that 2021 started, we can see that this evolving tendency will not change this year either. 

The most significant changes are still unimaginable, but within ten years, AR, VR, but even AI (Artificial Intelligence) and ML (Machine Learning) can evolve to the point where unbelievable surprises await us.

The arrival of the COVID-19 made us adapt to factors that have been unprecedented to get by the 'new normal'.

Healthcare

One of the most vital areas of development is in healthcare. With the help of augmented reality, not only can training be made more effective, but it has already become usable in real medical procedures and treatments. 

FundamentalVR came up with a training program where surgeons get an augmented surface to practice surgical skills and develop their knowledge with the help of AR. The interface allows doctors to work through situations that are very similar to reality, even together. 

OxfordVR is also a program used to treat phobias and anxiety. With this VR environment, virtual therapy learning becomes part of the real world. After just two hours of treatment, the therapy successfully reducing patients' fears by 68%. 

HoloLens, used in education, is one of Microsoft’s most successful headsets that allows medical students to see the inside of a human body in 3D.

Communication 

We can expect innovations not only in healthcare but also in communication due to headsets. After Facebook bought the VR headset called Oculus, it may be part of everyday communication soon. 

The increasing frequency of online meetings may become more effective as similar developments spread. People who communicate through glasses can expect easier communication and more effective collaboration. They are suitable not only for business but also for leisure use. 

For companies, this can mean that telecommuting colleagues could collaborate with ease and, goggles could make it more efficient to see, for example, the projection of documents or designs on real-time objects at the same time with VR.

Travel 

Traveling is a privilege that most of us had to give up the past year. However, AR and VR have also put their hands on tourism alongside the increasing popularity of devices.

VR headsets and glasses allow us to explore new areas from the comfort of our home so we can decide if it's worth traveling there later. 

This opportunity is not only suitable for discovery, but also makes it possible to relive our memories any time after. This opportunity could replace the value of traveler images and provide a new opportunity to remember our experiences.

Service and survey 

One of the most useful aspects of AR is its ability to respond to live problems in real-time. From assembling the simplest coffee maker to repairing more complex car engines, AR and VR glasses are always able to help. 

Porsche is one of the pioneers of the trend. Their program can reduce the repair time of their cars by up to 40%. Using an AR goggle, a Porsche technician can contact the Porsche technical support team in Atlanta. A remote assistant will send detailed repair information so they can project it onto the technician goggle display. This option also significantly increases the detection and diagnosis of problems. 

Due to the distance caused by the pandemic, the use of Porsche’s technology has tripled in its dealerships.

Art 

With the development of augmented reality, we can also come across the art made with AR. Thanks to this interactive nature of the new form of self-expression, it also provides an opportunity to arouse the interest of viewers who are not overly artificial. 

According to the Taipei Museum of Fine Arts, visitors using their AR guide engaged for longer, learned more, and remembered more after visiting the exhibition. 

In the AR installation at the Ontario Art Gallery called ReBlink, visitors had the opportunity to bring pieces of the collection to life with their phones. 84% of the participants in the augmented reality experience reported that they were more immersed in the works of art, and 39% of them searched for the images they saw even after the exhibition. 

The opportunities provided by AR save the arts in the current situation when visiting exhibitions is limited to online spaces. Augmented reality allows artists to express their creativity in new, interactive and practical, yet almost elusive ways.

Social Media marketing 

The proliferation of AR Filters also provided an opportunity to reform online marketing. By 2020, AR Filter marketing has become an integral part of many brands, and its spread will reach one of its highs in 2021. 

One of the downsides of a pandemic is that it makes communication between the brand and the customer difficult. It became impersonal and limited, for which the spread of AR Filter campaigns was a great solution. These campaigns can make the customer come into close contact with the brands in efficient ways. 

Using AR in advertising is also popular because it speeds up purchasing decisions and conversions thanks to impulsive purchases. By 2021, it has become apparent that augmented reality marketing is the marketing strategy of the future. 

Deloitte estimates that 88% of midsize companies are already taking advantage of AR marketing strategies to increase engagement.

Do you already have an idea of the first Filter of 2021? Life did not stop, so do not hesitate to contact us for your branded Filter!