Consider approaching what would seem a physical object but was previously nothing more than a blueprint.
Because of considerable advances in software development and product design technology, augmented reality is extraordinary and far more whimsical than ever.
Its applications are numerous and diverse, but AR has long piqued the interest of numerous product designers.
The ability to see accurate depictions of finished products in real-world contexts and tweak design features without relying on costly prototypes has long been desired.
AR can place digital elements in the user’s field of vision, creating the illusion that computer-generated simulations are in the same physical environment as the user.
Snapchat filters (just as dog ears on your head) and Pokemon Go (where players use their smartphones and tablets to capture Pokémon that appear next to them) are two well-known examples.
There are three varieties of AR:
- Image target, in which you layer a natural world 2D picture with video, text, photos, or 3D objects
- Object recognition, in which you settle a digital 3D model to a natural world 3D object
- Plane detection, in which you set a digital 3D model to a natural world flat cover
AR is as entertaining as it sounds! However, while there are numerous benefits to AR, there are also some drawbacks.
In this piece, we will explore the miracles and liabilities of technology in various industry sectors so that you can make an informed judgment.
Table of Contents
How is augmented reality different from virtual reality?
On the surface, the virtual and augmented reality experience sounds similar, but these are of different spheres. The basis of differences between virtual and augmented reality are:
- Virtual reality user experiences immersive digital worlds, while augmented reality applications augment a real-world scenario.
- VR is 25% interaction with reality (75% virtual), and AR is 75% reality content (25% virtual).
- Virtual reality headset triggers the VR experience, but AR doesn’t.
- The virtual reality environment is completely fictional, but Augmented Reality is in contact with the real world.
- VR requires lower bandwidth than AR.
- Augmented reality app enhances the real-world experience with the virtual world. VR-based 3-D models are proposed to enhance the gaming and visual experience.
The cons of VR and AR can be minimized by creating a Mixed reality, a combination of VR and AR.
Pros of augmented reality
The immediate blessing of augmented reality is that it allows for more engaging and stronger human-to-computer and computer-mediated human-to-human interactions than traditional integrations, resulting in more specific desirable applications.
1. Enhanced Communication
It isn’t easy to get individuals in the same area simultaneously in a globe where everyone is constantly on the move.
Augmented reality is a remedy to communication problems with distant folks. For example, augmented reality has altered how real estate agents conduct business.
It is not uncommon for one person on the other side of the world to be focused on a property.
The customer does not need to travel the globe to see the structure in person with augmented reality. They can conveniently see the house in real life using their AR device.
Correspondingly, real estate agents and buyers both have hectic schedules. Booking a viewing time that is convenient for both parties can be difficult.
If scheduling is a concern, the buyer can view the property on their own, in person, using their cellphone.
2. Learning And Practice For Almost Every Field
AR has made it very simple to understand complex information. With this attribute, every learning will be reliable and unconventional.
With virtual models, medical students can perform complex surgical experiments. It will also prevent any problems from occurring.
The risk to anyone’s health should not be taken into account as if we were doing it in real life. There could be a lot of interactive curriculums and homework assistance.
It can create experimental subject areas for chemical reactions and minor bridge construction for engineers, all with no peril.
In the tourism sector, AR could encourage virtual visits to other landmarks and earn money by selling items from that location.
It will save us time if we need to go on a field trip or work on other projects. As a result, everyone has something to learn from AR in various industries.
3. Sustains Business Activities
AR is expected to revolutionize every industry, from housing to shopping, because customers will be able to reap more advantages and invest wisely.
Construction projects benefit from augmented reality. Workers can use the technology to detect and repair damaged parts of a building, structure, or institution.
AR can be used in the development and remodeling processes; for example, it is frequently less expensive than physical prototyping.
This means that companies will incur fewer upfront costs when developing new products. They will know what the finished product will look like before production begins.
The potential of AR to digital position elements in real-world environments can help with navigation and tourism.
Map data, such as envisioned directions and indicators, can be superimposed with live visual effects on exact places.
On the windshields of automobiles, details such as map data, traffic status, snow conditions, and terrain can be presented.
Government tourism agencies and professionals can use AR to promote a specific location. To enhance their overall experience, travelers can be proffered sensory input in an actual location that can mimic historical facts or deliver objects.
Tourists in a foreign land can use apps on their mobile phones that use artificial intelligence, particularly natural language processing, to translate messages in their language in real-time.
5. Handsfree Solution
Using technology without needing physical and manual interplay is a considerable benefit.
Since everything is voice-controlled, no mobile phone is required. It streamlines your life and eliminates the appetite for a mobile phone because you glance around you rather than at a screen.
You wouldn’t have to look down at a display screen if you were using Google Maps because it would be right in front of you.
Since you are always connected to the internet, you do not have to worry about the signal, connection, or data fees no matter where you are.
6. Ease Of Use
The development of an AR app for Android and iOS systems validates the most recent online and offline shopping adventures.
Digital changing rooms can help customers get the right size, reducing the number of returns.
This also applies to the color of new cars or soft furnishings in one’s home. Sellers can create custom augmented reality apps tailored to their products to provide their customers with a better experience.
Cons of augmented reality
In a planet of product development, augmented reality is still taking baby steps. For so many, this implies that it is not yet ready to be fully integrated. Here are a few disadvantages of augmented reality.
1. Matters Around Privacy
One of the downsides of augmented reality is that it is predicated on the gathering, assessment, and redistribution of various types of data, primarily through the use of Big Data, which raises privacy and security concerns.
Several AR devices, for instance, document the environment in real-time. The act of recording may raise legal implications.
Some augmented reality systems gather and access information about their users, such as biometric information and device browsing activity.
With more restrictive data protection laws, like the GDPR of the European Union, programmers of these systems must adhere to data usage specifications.
2. Can Be Costly
Remember that augmented reality has attributes that can benefit individuals and organizations. It can be used by businesses to improve their efficiency or mechanisms.
Incorporating the technology necessitates both technical expertise and financial investment. It is currently only available to large or financially sound institutions.
3. Cannot be Used Without the Required Devices
Presumably, you were required to demonstrate a real estate to a client but didn’t have a mobile phone, iPad, or augmented reality headset on hand.
You would be unable to show the house to your customers. Though there is a slight chance that you do not possess a gadget, you wouldn’t be able to use augmented reality unless you made a rare blunder and managed to forget your gadget.
4. Addiction And Health Problems
One of the drawbacks of AR is how addicting it can be to regularly monitor our phone for notifications on the match or other applications. Psychologists and doctors have labeled this addiction “smartphone fever.”
The augmented reality technology has become addictive, as participants can become engrossed in the game for many hours.
Addiction is associated with a number of health issues, including vision problems, obesity, difficulty concentrating, and chronic pain.
While the limitations of augmented reality are still being debated, studies show that the technology poses many astounding health risks.
Wearers of AR devices would be immersed in virtual information, which could cause hearing loss, eye damage, and even behavioral changes.
According to another Google Daydream research, users may comprehend a virtual environment as genuine, resulting in discrepancies in how they understand and process information. Such mechanisms would result in psychological issues such as PTSD.
5. Physical And Psychological Impact
AR is a discovery that combines the interplay of people’s minds in the physical and virtual worlds.
As a result, advancements may introduce new human disturbances that must be thoroughly researched in order to be fully cured.
And as the use of augmented reality grows, people may become more aggressive and even cause multiple physical injuries.
Lately, a popular game called Pokemon GO has caused many traffic fatalities among gamers because they had to travel on real-world roads to get the new pokemon.
This game was rather addictive for many players. As a result, it had a physical and psychological effect on new AR users across the globe.
Summary of pros and cons of augmented reality
| Pros |
|---|
| Enhanced Communication |
| Learning And Practice For Almost Every Field |
| Sustains Business Activities |
| Handsfree Solution |
| Ease Of Use |
| Navigation And Tourism |
| Cons |
|---|
| Matters Around Privacy |
| Can Be Costly |
| No device, no augmented reality |
| Addiction And Health Problems |
| Physical And Psychological Impact |
The evolution in technology benefits many other sectors and simplifies people’s lives.
Correspondingly, augmented reality is a sophisticated system for learning new things, engaging with new people and places, and making one’s life easier.
The result can be unpleasant if abused, as evidenced by the current generation’s increased health and mental problems.
This technology is not for everyone, and as technology advances, it will most likely become available to common folk as well.
(Last Updated on August 29, 2022)
