How Augmented Reality is Reshaping Everything

By NIIT Editorial

Published on 16/03/2021

6 minutes

Augmented Reality has slowly but gradually discovered mainstream applications in pretty much all industries. Gaming, education, and healthcare present the foremost cases, here is how software developers have found unique ways to introduce AR into various domains.

Education

AR apps designed specifically for smartphones and tablets offer immersive experiences to readers. Hovering over the content brings to life 3D imagery that gives a 360-degree understanding of scientific concepts. The same concept can be applied to history and give students AR tours of heritage/historical sites around the world. This pseudo-real-life example of learning makes studies engaging and increases conceptual recall when students need them the most.

Healthcare

AR helps doctors identify surficial symptoms by scanning specimens for particular ailments. In addition to it, its sister technology, Virtual Reality is being used for comforting patients diagnosed for rehabilitation. Feelings of desolation and desperation are quite common while recuperating from habitually unhealthy patterns. VR helps patients, particularly with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) by showing imagery that improves their mind frame.

Event Management

Along with augmented reality, virtual reality helps cut short distances by transporting people, in some sense of the word, to remote locations. Intel, for instance, used VR tech to equip its employees so they could inspect a plant as big as 2000 acres remotely. VR has also been piloted for remote attendees so they could join online concerts without missing out on the feel and vibe of an arena experience.

Retail

Fashion is rediscovering itself partly due to the all-invasive digital transformation and partly due to the pandemic. Retailers that have moved businesses entirely to E-commerce modes are using AR integration to offer perfect-fit apparel and home appliances. Customers can shortlist clothing that will automatically fit onto dimensions replicating their digital self to give a wholesome view. Furniture brand IKEA through its app lets users scan and fit furniture into home settings digitally so they make an informed decision.

Journalism

Journalism for one may not have been the ideal choice for VR developers but here we are. None other than the New York Times is endorsing virtual reality wearables that it has a dedicated NYTVR app to support which it has delivered about a million headsets to users. Speaking of which VR startups in journalism are making through the ranks such as the startup RYOT, which was purchased by AOL. There is growing talk that if publications have to survive, they’ll have to have a medium of storytelling that lets readers live through the moment than read through it.

Law Enforcement

Civilian police staff is being trained with the use of VR particularly in the US. The services of VirTra have been deployed to place policemen in simulated scenarios and train them mentally for adverse situations.

Manufacturing

Warehouse workers could do with some assistance in identifying sections of their stock-keeping units with smart glasses. The same could indicate, with the use of AR, the exact location of the products next-in-line to be shipped, saving time, and reducing mismanagement, and optimizing the available functional space.