Top 10 Augmented and Virtual Reality Trends to Watch in 2020

Technological advancements in recent years have paved a new way of experience where customers can practice real-world life into an imaginary environment – through Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR). These two buzzwords, driving the technology world today along with AI and Automation, have redefined the strategies organizations take in their course of operation today.

VR is demarcated as the use of computer technology to create a simulated environment, bringing an entirely computerized, digital world to the human mind. Conversely, AR builds computer graphics which can be viewed in a normal environment. For the last few years, both AR and VR have been progressively adopted in industries, from healthcare to retail and entertainment, among others.

While AR and VR rapidly being leveraged by companies, it is predicted that both technologies will cause a disruption in the world economies and drive the new change into digital transformation in years to come. With these escalating developments, here are top 10 Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) trends to watch out for 2020:

Integration of AI with AR and VR

Over the next years, many developers and leaders will build and discuss the integration of artificial intelligence with AR and VR. The advanced AI technology enables computers to visualize things through a camera and understand them, becoming a vital technology for making lives better. With this integration, enterprises will also be able to drive more efforts towards digital. It is expected that the machine learning algorithms which let these features will become more sophisticated and capable.

VR and AR in Teaching and Training 

AR and VR technologies are said to have better use cases in the education sector. It is also predicted that both technologies are the next big trend in education and the future of learning. Through virtual reality, students can practice surgery or construction in the same way things happen in the real world without any kind of risks involved. On the other hand, with augmented reality, it is possible to send information to students in real-time on perils, objectives, or best practices. There is also no uncertainty that this will bolster the demand for education apps development companies in the coming years.

The New VR-Powered Entertainment

For a couple of years, it was predicted to use of VR in entertainment. And now with the evolution of headsets, the adoption of VR in homes has been taking place abruptly. Also, developers and hardware development companies are focusing on and making their effort to create the perfect apps. Since the applications and users shift towards mobile, VR instilled headsets will be built in a bid to enhance the virtual experience, such as eyeball-tracking and increased field-of-view.

AR Makes Shopping Easier

AR is the most notable buzzword in 2019 as nearly 100 million users are anticipated to leverage AR-powered shopping technologies this year. The eruption of AR-enabled mobile devices makes the industry to be robust and mature in terms of utilizing advanced technologies. The use of this technology amongst developers, retailers, and customers as part of their daily experience also makes shopping easier.

AR Increasingly Expanding to Vehicles

As the discussions about autonomous vehicles have reached today's disruptive world, it may still take a few more years to see fully autonomous vehicles becoming an integral part of our everyday lives. Meanwhile, many automobile manufacturers have shown increased interest to a good number of other AI-based technologies as AR advances to redefine the way people move and travel. Furthermore, two of the most vital technology disruption trends which will be seen in the coming time to get implemented in the new vehicles include the use of voice assistants and in-car AR.

AR finding Its Way into Indoor Navigation Systems

Indoor Navigation is one of the most apparent use cases for AR technologies. It is expected that the average consumer gets their first real taste of its potential this year. Since individuals are heavily utilizing maps services from Google and Apple to get around outside, indoor navigation stands to be the use case that blows the public away.

AR Technology for Enterprises

Some sectors like medical, military, and enterprise solutions are started to prove the value of integrating AR with headsets and smart glasses. Battery life is one of the major current headwinds for AR technology. For the year 2019, Microsoft HoloLens 2 is likely to be the most anticipated product in this space. And the company expects to roll out its technology by demonstrating advancements that it brought in raw processing power, battery life, and wearability. Other manufacturers also anticipate the future of augmented reality will rise in the enterprise sector.

Collaboration and Remote Assistance

Collaborative efforts like conference calls are typically dented by the lack of a direct personal presence. However, AR can create mixed-reality settings where everyone on a conference call can see each other in a more socially conducive environment. To give realistic touch into this, Microsoft is moving forward with a beta of a video-calling system that deploys AR to create holographic-style representations of participants.

VR-Enabled Native Advertising 

In virtual formats, consumer entertainment has been gaining traction for a while now. For instance, the release of Oculus Quest is scheduled to include a new Star Wars series, entirely envisioned in virtual reality. As VR becomes a viable long-form content format, we will see extended use cases in native advertising. VR will offer users a one-on-one understanding of the product, through hands-on experiences as a completely seamless part of the user interface.

Market Developments Influenced by VR 

For marketing success, a better understanding of the products and services, especially in pharmaceuticals, automobiles, industrial equipment, and such other industries, is very essential. So, companies now are making VR-powered product design to cut the barriers to creating integrated workflows. This VR development will also be instrumental in product discussions in a shared, virtually simulated environment.