Top Augmented Reality Trends to Watch in 2022

Augmented reality technology is a top innovation that has opened up new opportunities for businesses all over the globe. Analysts forecast that AR will be worth $198 billion by 2025. The number of AR users on mobile devices is expected to rise to 3.5 billion this year.AR experiences are a competitive advantage in many industries because there is a huge market. Technology is improving, which will allow for better efficiency at work. Let's look at the augmented reality trends that will drive innovation in 2022.

Trend #1: Mobile Augmented Reality is Evolving

Mobile augmented reality offers many benefits that have made it the focus of much of the technology's attention. Most users already have an AR-capable smartphone so they don't need to spend a lot of money on a bulky and expensive headset. Because mobile devices are portable, they can be carried into almost any place.

APPLE ARKIT 5.

The latest version, ARKit 5, of Apple's open-source mobile augmented reality development too let, ARKit 4, has significant improvements over ARKit 4. The most significant enhancements include improved support for location anchors and motion tracking. Additionally, the iPad Pro 5th generation has a wider camera that can track faces. AR experiences can also be activated using App Clip Codes. This is done by a quick scan.Since their introduction in ARKit 4, location anchors have undergone significant improvements. AR-based navigation is enhanced by location anchors. App developers can place virtual objects at specific latitudes, longitudes, and altitudes on the screen to match the real-world objects. Location anchors can display icons or text that are three-dimensional in space, for example.Expanded facial tracking is now available on all devices that have the A12 Bionic chip or later. This includes devices without TrueDepth Cameras like iPhone SE. You can reach even greater users. Face tracking is also supported by the Ultra-Wide camera on the iPad Pro (5th Generation).This feature allows you to track up to three faces simultaneously.App Clip Codes can be used to create lightweight portions of apps by scanning QR code-like images. This feature can be integrated with ARKit to allow for augmented reality experiences that can be launched from any location without the need to download additional software.

ARCORE

ARCore is the Android equivalent to ARKit. It provides open-source native tools that allow developers to create augmented realities apps on Android devices. This is because of the large variety of hardware available on Android devices. It's generally viewed as a more difficult challenge than ARKit. Some features of it may not work on all Android devices.Google added a few new features to ARCore this year such as playback and recording APIs. Developers can now record video footage using AR metadata. Developers can create a replica of the environment in the video using depth and IMU motion sensor data. This data can be used later on for further testing. Developers can now test specific environments more easily with their software. Developers can use the recording and playback API, but it's also useful for users. Because video can include environmental metadata, this technology allows users to record and then apply AR effects later.

ARKIT VS ARCORE

The battle between ARKit, ARCore is not as simple as you might think. ARKit seems to be the most compatible between software and hardware since Apple is responsible for all aspects. But not everyone on the market has an iPhone or iPad. Because of user accessibility, ARCore should be equally important. Support is not always available for all Android devices due to hardware variations. However, it is important to include as many users as possible for the company's continued competitiveness.

Trend #2: Powering Indoor and Outdoor Navigation

AR navigation is more accessible and fluid than ever. AR navigation will be possible in 2022. The rise in technology like Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Wi-Fi RTT, and ultra-wideband makes indoor navigation more feasible than ever before. This technology can be used to display AR directions indoors in large locations such as distribution centers, shopping malls, airports.This technology can be used by both consumers and businesses, something that should not be overlooked. A guest may use AR indoor navigation in a store to locate the product they are looking for. A worker in a distribution center may also use AR indoor navigation to locate a specific item in their warehouse. While AR glasses that are affordable and comfortable are not yet available, they have the potential to be used in business, such as stores and distribution centers. Zebra is a leading manufacturer of mobile enterprise devices that are ARCore-capable, such as the TC52 and TC57. These devices are Android-powered smartphones that can scan barcodes for business purposes.Indoor navigation makes it possible to make online ordering and pick-up in-store (BOPIS), more efficient. The AR directions can be used by team members who are responsible for picking the items in the store to fulfill orders.

Trend #3: Healthcare and Augmented Reality

Deloitte Research predicts that augmented reality and AI will revolutionize the healthcare industry by providing hands-free AR/MR-enabled solutions and IA-based diagnostic tools. Microsoft Hololens 2 for example can give information to the surgeon and allow them to use both their hands during the procedure.Covid-19 continues to be restricted, making it more important for hospitals and patients to use augmented reality trends solutions. These include both mental health apps and telesurgery that help people in maintaining their psychological balance in their difficult times.AR technology can be used to improve telemedicine solutions, which are currently on the rise. AR technology can be used to make communication between patients and doctors easier. Remote assistance tools are also available to clinicians, allowing them to support patients and reduce downtime.

Trend #4: Augmented Reality Shopping Experiences

The retail sector has many opportunities for Augmented Reality. Store mapping is one of these opportunities. Augmented reality can be used to provide on-screen guidance that allows users to navigate the layout of a store and find what they are looking for. Dent Reality is one company that has developed AR mapping systems for retail stores. The user simply needs to hold their smartphone up and follow the AR directions through the aisles until they reach their destination. However, AR in retail does not stop with navigation in 2022. AR can be used to help customers shop online and in stores. AR-based marketing materials, for example, can increase engagement and purchase likelihood.

Trend #5: Augmented Reality, Remote Assistance

Augmented reality can significantly improve user experiences by providing user-friendly assistance and machine learning. Owl Labs estimates that 70% of Americans working full-time will work remotely by 2020. There are many problems with telework because video conferencing is the backbone of it. What can be done to compensate for the loss of context and the benefits of meeting in real life? Video conferencing can cause us to lose entire dimensions of context. We are forced into two-dimensional space. This can harm IT technical support jobs. Teleconferencing is not available. IT specialists can only make suggestions to the user so they can solve the problem themselves before sending their device to the office.

Trend #6: Augmented Reality in Automotive Industries

AR technology has made a significant impact on vehicles its safety and usability. While they haven’t been able to implement it with headsets as well, they used similar technologies to make it possible. The Full Self-Driving Beta is now available and can be used by many customers...

Trend #7: AR Glasses, Future or Fiction?

Augmented reality headsets and glasses have a fascinating reputation. They are widely considered the future of AR technology and have been used in real-world applications. However, they have not yet made it mainstream. They have been used in business and enterprise solutions if they have made a point. Microsoft's HoloLens 2, a mixed reality headset, isn't priced or promoted for consumers. However, it is being used by the military as well as medical professionals for training and surgeries. The US Army's Synthetic Training Environment (STE), which uses AR and VR, allows soldiers to immerse themselves in various scenarios and simulate them. Australian technicians use Microsoft HoloLens and Boeing-developed software to maintain their aircraft.

Trend #8: Live Events, the Metaverse and Social Upheaval

While Facebook has taken the Internet by storm, it is metal branding to Meta may have made it the most popular on the Internet. However, the Metaverse concept and the upheaval of digital communications with extended reality spaces is something that has been around since the beginning. This term was first used in Neal Stephenson’s 1992 science fiction novel Snow Crash. It may have been used to speculate on the future result of large corporations gaining more control over consumers' lives. While it is important to be aware of the potential effects of the shift in the market towards increasingly digital transformation trends and virtual reality spaces and industries.

Future of Augmented Reality

The potential of augmented reality is evident as the AR industry continues to grow in market value. AR has a wider impact than just gaming. Gaming will still be the largest industry revenue driver and will continue to be a significant driver of AR. However, AR will also gain popularity in practical applications such as engineering, healthcare, and sales. These are the benefit from AR solution in the real estate and corporate campus navigation. The emergence of the "metaverse" will help to accelerate the hybridization of telework, virtual meetings, and AR technologies.