12 Augmented Reality Trends 2023: New Milestones in Immersive Technologies

AR is without a doubt one of the innovative technologies that are making science fiction a reality. Holograms, as seen in Star Wars and Marvel films, now surround us in real life, providing a new immersive experience that is more than just entertainment. Nowadays, augmented reality is a powerful business tool that there has been a surge in Augmented Reality Companies.

Augmented reality is utilized to solve a wide range of business concerns in industries such as retail, business, gaming, healthcare, and even the military. It is critical to keep an eye on these technologies in order to predict where the industry is headed. Consider how these solutions may benefit your own business as we discuss the 12 augmented reality trends to watch in 2023.  

Trend #1: Leap into the Metaverse

It should come as no surprise that augmented reality is being used in conjunction with other metaverse technologies. Since Facebook’s rebranding as ‘Meta,’ the metaverse has bombarded the news media. However, this isn’t just marketing nonsense. One goal of metaverse technologies is to break down the barriers that exist between the digital and physical worlds. Because augmented reality can display virtual objects embedded in our physical world, new opportunities for businesses and consumers alike emerge.

AVATAR

AR is a great place to start if we want to bring digital experiences into the real world. Companies are already working on camera filters in Augmented Reality Development that accomplish this using body and face tracking, as well as advanced scene depth sensing. Geenee AR and Ready Player Me collaborated to bring this experience to life. You can effectively ‘wear’ your avatar on camera by inserting it into Geenee’s WebAR Builder software. The software also takes into account cosmetic items on your Ready Player Me character, such as NFT accessories. This is not a new technology. It has long been seen in use with apps such as Snapchat and Instagram. The app’s most innovative feature, however, is the ability for users to drop their avatar from other platforms into the app and use it in AR. This technology could be used in the future to better hybridise virtual meetings. If one of your team members is using a VR headset to attend a meeting and you are not, an AR avatar of the person could represent them at your meeting.

SPATIAL AUDIO

Although spatial audio may not appear to be an augmented reality technology on the surface, it is critical for enhancing the immersion of AR experiences. Metaverse techs have always been fixated with integrating all 5 of our sensory experiences, including hearing. 3D audio is required to make VR and AR experiences more immersive. Based on their own position, users should be able to determine where a sound is coming from in 3D space. Meta recently updated its AR Spark Studio with an advanced engine for creating sound effects by combining multiple sounds. This allowed developers to create multi-sensory effects that engages users in the experience of augmented reality through the use of both sight and sound. We can make sounds play in response to human interaction with our AR effect in this way.

TAKING DIGITAL ITEMS INTO THE REAL WORLD

Meta recently updated its AR Spark Studio with an advanced engine for creating sound effects by combining multiple sounds. This enables creators to create multi-sensory effects that allow users to immerse themselves in the augmented reality experience by using both sight and sound. We can make sounds play in response to human interaction with our AR effect in this way.

Trend #2: Augmented Reality Meets Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence works well with augmented reality in two ways. The first being the facial and spatial recognition software required for AR to function is powered by artificial intelligence and the second one being AR and AI solutions can collaborate to create novel solutions. These roles aren’t necessarily exclusive. They tend to blend in quite well.

AI MAKES AR WORK BETTER

Artificial intelligence and augmented reality are 2 separate technologies. However, with the demands of AR, it’s no surprise that AI and AR work well together. Understanding sensor data from the environment requires the use of complex algorithms. AI can simplify this process and make it more accurate than models created solely by humans. A practical example of this is the ClipDrop app. The app allows users to quickly digitize real-world objects into 3D objects for use in programs such as PowerPoint, Photoshop, and Google Docs. 3D scanning can also be used to import real-world objects into the metaverse environment.

Trend #3: Mobile Augmented Reality is Evolving

One of the primary means of delivering augmented reality experiences is mobile devices. Most consumers have a mobile device of some sort, and AR headsets are not yet mainstream for consumers. As a result, companies have found many ways to leverage their mobile devices for AR.

GEOSPATIAL API FOR ARCORE

Google introduced a new API for geospatial experiences in 2022. This enables developers to create experiences tied to specific locations in space. Previously, AR experiences were purely relative to the user or in arbitrary locations chosen by the user. Developers can use the Geospatial API to specify latitude and longitude coordinates for AR content. It is also not necessary to scan the physical space. It works similarly to Apple ARKit Location Anchors, comparing images of the surrounding area to Google Street View images to quickly determine a specific location.

ARKIT 6 ENHANCEMENTS

At WWDC in 2022, Apple announced several new features for their ARKit 6 upgrade. One of them is a 4K video recording while using ARKit content. The depth API has also been improved, making scene occlusion and other experiences more realistic. Apple’s LiDAR scanner enables AR experiences to be created so quickly that the technology is dubbed “instant AR.” Apple has also enhanced its motion capture feature. When the camera is focused on another person, motion capture data from their movements can be extracted and applied to a 3D model. People occlusion is another recent enhancement that allows virtual objects to pass in front of and behind people in the scene. One prominent application of these ARKit 6 enhancements is RoomPlan, a solution that uses LiDAR scanning to quickly create floor plans of a house or other structure.

ARCORE VS ARKIT

For several years, Apple and Google have largely competed in the augmented reality space in the same way. In terms of software, both technologies are, as usual, on par. However, it is in the hardware that things become more interesting. Apple’s LiDAR scanner, as well as similar technologies found on higher-end Samsung devices, can provide the best AR experiences available. However, Android devices have a wide range of hardware differences. Many Android devices are simply not powerful enough to handle higher-end augmented reality.

Trend #4: WebAR: Better Accessibility with Compromise

WebAR is another important trend in augmented reality. WebAR, which is powered by web browsers, does not require users to download any additional software. This is the best-case accessibility scenario. However, there is a cost: WebAR provides the most basic AR experiences and lacks many of the features that native AR on mobile devices can provide. WebAR, on the other hand, can be very useful in some cases for simple experiences. Such as applying filters to faces, changing the colour of hair or objects, replacing backgrounds, and creating simple 3D objects. WebAR enables simpler virtual try-on experiences. Many companies, including L’Oréal and Maybelline, use these for their cosmetic products.

Trend #5: Cross-Platform AR Gains Prominence

Making cross-platform apps is a significant challenge in AR development. There is also the unfortunate reality that cross-platform applications will almost certainly fall short of their full potential. However, if the proper steps are taken, cross-platform apps can be of very high quality. Cross-platform augmented reality is easier to code and can result in a shorter time to market. However, performance and presentation may suffer as a result. For instance, if you are developing an online store where 90% of the functionality is not platform-dependent, does not require maximum performance, and has a simple product preview module in AR, you can use cross-platform AR. However, when dealing with an application whose functionality necessitates maximum performance or is platform-dependent, the native option is preferable. This is true for projects like 3D scanning and AR navigation.

Trend #6: AR Glasses, Future or Fiction?

With each passing year, it appears that more comfortable and user-friendly AR glasses are on the horizon. Meta’s planned mixed reality headset, currently dubbed Cambria, is one of the most recent devices in the works. This is a new product line that complements their successful Meta Quest 2. The Cambria headset, on the other hand, appears to be aimed at wealthier audiences looking to get a head start on the future of augmented reality. As a result, Cambria does not appear to be the panacea that everyone hoped for. However, it could be a step in the right direction. Another thing to keep an eye on is the evolution of Apple’s LiDAR scanner. Apple is one of the most likely companies to release a consumer-focused AR headset or glasses in the future. Their advanced depth sensor was first installed on the iPad Pro in 2020, and later on the iPhone 12 Pro. The more this technology and processing can be miniaturised, the more likely it is that we will see ‘Apple Glasses’ in the future. However apart from AR glasses, there are numerous revolutionary devices that assure to be prominent in the coming years of augmented reality. Mojo Vision in June 2022, Saratoga Labs in Saratoga, California hosted the first demonstration of augmented reality smart contact lenses. AR lenses integrate with user interfaces to provide an augmented reality experience, relying on eye tracking, communications, and software. Mojo Lens has a custom-tuned accelerometer, gyroscope, and magnetometer that track eye movements continuously to ensure that AR images remain stable as the eyes move.

Trend #7: AR in Marketing

In the marketing industry, Augmented Reality has a variety of applications. For example, business cards are a popular and straightforward option that can be used with simple AR solutions. By incorporating interactivity into marketing materials such as business cards, you can differentiate yourself from the competition and provide potential customers with an entirely new and exciting way to learn about your company. AR has numerous applications in advertising. Banner ad click-through rates have fallen from 0.72% in 2016 to 0.35% in 2019. One reason for this could be that the banner ads are interfering with the user’s ability to access the content. AR ads, on the other hand, may provide more seamless access to content by obstructing it less. For example, Facebook’s new augmented reality ads allow users to access AR experiences from their timeline via special ads with varying capabilities. Virtual try-on, placing virtual objects in their homes, and other features are among these.

Trend #8: Powering Indoor and Outdoor Navigation

AR manuals are also a popular choice among businesses looking to provide more detailed and feature-rich instructions and documentation to their customers. AR also allows for the interactive presentation of information, but it also greatly enhances user experience without mandating the buyer to expend substantial effort in perfecting one or more mechanisms. It is essential to note the possibility for this innovation to be used by both businesses and consumers. Although comfortable and affordable AR glasses are not yet available, the potential for business applications of AR in distribution centres, stores, and other sectors exists.

Trend #9: Healthcare and Augmented Reality

Augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI), according to Deloitte Research, will reshape the conventional healthcare market model by delivering hands-free AR/MR alternatives and IA-based diagnostics.Microsoft Hololens 2, for example, can provide information to the surgeon while allowing them to use both hands during the procedure. With the continued restrictions associated with Covid-19, the use of augmented reality solutions to address issues such as the complexity of remote patient support and the increased burden on hospitals is becoming increasingly important. This includes telesurgery solutions as well as mental health apps that assist people in maintaining psychological balance during these trying times.

Trend #10: Augmented Reality Shopping Experiences

The occurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic compelled a plethora of developments that could assist in advancing the online shopping experience. Augmented reality filter became one of the innovations that profited immensely the most from the instability. As a result, there was an explosion of virtual try-on solutions. AR technology is being actively adopted by brands in order to improve the user experience when shopping online. Dior, for example, has repeatedly launched AR shoe experiences that allow customers to virtually try on shoes before purchasing. For the first time, Dior collaborated with Snapchat to launch such an initiative in 2020.

Trend #11: Augmented Reality in Manufacturing

Many augmented reality app development are geared toward consumers. However, augmented reality has a lot of potential for use in industries such as manufacturing. AR experiences powered by CAD data, for example, can improve worker training. AR can also help technicians with routine maintenance tasks. AR applications can highlight elements of devices under repair to help technicians navigate the process. In general, head-mounted solutions are more accessible than mobile applications.

Trend #12: Augmented Reality in Automotive Industries

Augmented reality has a variety of applications that can be beneficial to the automotive industry. AR highlighting on-road objects via a heads-up display is one of the more futuristic and interesting technologies emerging in this space (HUD). Drivers can be made aware of hazards and GPS directions without having to take their eyes off the road. AR is also used for entertainment and education, as in 3D car manuals and other applications.

MOBIDEV WAKEUP APP: DRIVER AWARENESS ASSISTANCE

MobiDev’s WakeUp app is another great example of using augmented reality in the automotive industry. WakeUp’s goal is to help keep drivers awake by detecting when their eyes are closed or their head is tilted using ARKit facial recognition technology. If the driver’s eyes are closed or his head is tilted for an extended period of time, the device will sound an alarm to help wake him up. This technology has room to develop. TrueDepth cameras, for example, can perform head and eye tracking in complete darkness thanks to their infrared sensing. Furthermore, artificial intelligence could detect a driver’s behaviours that indicate drowsiness and alert the driver before it’s too late. These are the future directions in which we intend to develop these products.

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