Since its inception, AR technology has advanced significantly. One of the Boeing researchers, Tom Caudell, came up with the phrase Augmented Reality (AR) itself in 1990. Prior to it, there was no discernible difference between augmented reality and virtual reality. Things started to change quickly in the 2000s, and we are seeing an increasing number of companies utilizing the new technology.
Once a thing of the fairly distant future, AR technology became possible and began to advance with the launch and acceptance of smartphones, followed by the Hololens and Oculus Rift. Although it takes some time to understand the basics, creating an Augmented Reality Apps Development is today not too difficult; it only requires determining what and why.
The market value of the virtual reality and AR sector is now projected to reach $108 billion by 2021 and $162 billion by 2024, according to highly optimistic projections.
Augmented Reality Services are expected to grow rapidly in the upcoming year, according to current year statistics and projections of AR revenues from 2018 to 2020:
[Source: Statista]
Nevertheless, this does not imply that the AR sector is a fantasy land. Not at all. The difficulties that the AR sector is now facing will be discussed in this essay.
Table of Contents:
No Tested Business Models
The fact that AR technology is not performing well commercially, even though it has been widely adopted and well accepted by the public, is one of its most peculiar features.
To put it another way, the industry is doing well. The industry for AR apps is experiencing a consistent influx of investments, and overall sentiment is more than favorable. All of these investments, nevertheless, have not yet yielded significant returns. A contributing factor is that, aside from the gaming sector, no one has developed a unique business model for AR that will be viable in the long run.
Although many large companies are experimenting with various AR-related solutions and startups are sprouting up like mushrooms after the rain with ever-more-outlandish ideas, it’s important to remember that all of these solutions are incorporated into business models that work whether or not they use AR.
Pokemon Go, the most popular AR product in recent years, broke even only due to the strength of the brand. The retention rate came after the initial excitement subsided. The same is true of the AR apps from Amazon and IKEA; while they are entertaining, they are not necessary.
On the other hand, industrial businesses are a beam of light. Why? They have sufficient funding to support development, and AR technology may be useful in many other industries.
To mention a few:
- • Proof of Concept for building initiatives
- • Monitoring construction progress
- • Visualizing hidden infrastructure
- • Discrepancy checking
- • Maintenance instructions
These applications have the ability to establish AR technology as a useful tool that enhances the final product’s quality rather than as a toy.
Absence of Design and Development for AR Apps Criteria
Standards are a software application’s equivalent of a universal language. It is one method to ensure its compatibility and contribute to the technology’s overall advancement. This is the current AR project that is being built.
It’s just because it’s too early. Even while the technology has been around “technically” for a while, it is still in its infancy and is still developing both in terms of hardware and software.
What is the issue, then? Without guidelines, each project involving AR is unique and hardly compatible with the others. This makes it more difficult to come up with ideas that work for the bigger picture, which slows down the development of technology by more than it might have if everyone had been in agreement.
But it will take time for technical standards to be implemented, and their acceptance will be the last step in making the technology a legitimate one.
Concerns about AR Security and Privacy
Another major issue facing the AR business is privacy and security. There is a significant possibility of getting into problems unintentionally because of oversight, carelessness, and inconsistent AR programming.
The main problem is that there is no genuine law that specifies what is and is not permitted in the AR setting. This implies that just as technology may be used for amusement, it can also be utilized maliciously.
An example of this would be the “try before you buy” option for clothes, but instead of covering your body with the fabric, someone may cover another naked body and use it to blackmail or harm your reputation. Alternatively, by overlaying and slightly altering AR material, AR may be used to steal accounts through monitoring and data mining (similar to ad stacking fraud schemes).
Ignorance of these issues contributes to the situation. People are unaware of the subject’s sensitivity. The second aspect of the issue is the developers’ unwillingness to intervene before the situation becomes heated.
The Potential for Physical Injury
Even while AR’s long-term impacts are far better known than those of virtual reality, the nature of the application and carelessness still pose a serious risk of injury to both you and the environment.
The problem is that Augmented Reality functions in the physical environment while including a little amount of digital technology. These factors are diverting focus from reality, which might lead to a potentially hazardous circumstance.
For instance, do you recall all the press reports about Pokemon Go players getting hurt? It’s only the beginning, though.
Although it may be a valuable addition to the proceedings, AR can also be a major source of distraction. Because AR displays are more of a hazard than a true benefit for driving, automakers are hesitant to use them.
Therefore, it is necessary to create a certain type of AR interface that is both practical and does not interfere with the process.
Low-quality use cases and content
Even though AR technology is evolving quickly and progressively, there are still issues with its use cases and content. In terms of the potential to bring down an industry, it is currently at the top of the list of unresolved issues in AR.
The vast bulk of AR-related material that is accessible through App Stores consists mostly of a collection of basic techniques. Presenting some brands as clever and forward-thinking is its aim. It is intended to be a one-time event.
Although AR technology is still in its infancy, the solutions above appear a little inadequate when you consider what AR development businesses are attempting to do with essentially the same tools (all healthcare or education-related HoloLens or Google Cardboard projects).
Lack of knowledge in the industry is one of the contributing factors to this issue. Developers with a solid understanding of technology who can provide an experience that is both accessible and practical are in short supply.
The absence of solid use cases for AR technology is the other major issue that the AR industry is facing. Most AR applications are currently one-trick pony apps that can do a single task with the same degree of efficacy without their help.
By design, AR is an extra component of other activities; it must make a substantial contribution to the process, either by making more information more accessible or by helping with certain tasks.
Due in part to AR’s inherent nature as an addition or augmentation of anything else, it can only succeed if it is a logical progression that makes the activity as a whole simpler and more efficient, which involves trial and error.
On paper, AR displays for automobiles sound like a nice concept, but in reality, they are not a practical option. However, AR can be highly beneficial in engineering or medical training. The same is true for on-set simulations and infrastructure design.
Augmented Reality Trend: Social Issues, Retention and Public Acceptance
Although AR is often cited as one of the most intriguing new technologies and appears to be a pretty popular issue in the media, the general public’s reaction to it is, to use a poor term, mediocre.
The fact that most AR content is of erratic quality is one factor contributing to this. This leads to the idea that AR apps are just superfluous. But things will likely turn around with a few “killer apps” that demonstrate the value of technology in a single, quick swipe.
The public’s general ignorance about the advantages of AR in a variety of industries is another aspect of the issue. A sizable percentage of potential consumers still think it’s crazy science fiction.
Then there’s the issue of retention. Even if AR technology has become more and more popular in recent years, maintaining an audience for AR apps over the long run remains a major challenge.
The current situation with AR apps is as follows: consumers download the app after seeing an enticing advertisement, use it a few times until the objective is met or their attention is piqued, and then stop using it because lack of long-term use cases.
Challenges and Restrictions of AR Technology
The technological disparity among AR devices is another significant issue in putting AR solutions into practice. Designing an app for a smartphone is a very different matter than designing one for a fully functional AR device. The latter scenario has several drawbacks that render the entire experience unintuitive and rather redundant to the activity it enhances.
Given that smartphones continue to be a preferred device and have certain limitations when it comes to AR app design, the majority of the target audience is unlikely to purchase AR gear due to its impracticality and high cost, which negates the purpose of adding AR to the mix.
Given that smartphones continue to be a preferred device and have certain limitations when it comes to AR app design, the majority of the target audience is unlikely to purchase AR gear due to its impracticality and high cost, which negates the purpose of adding AR to the mix.
What is the answer to this issue? The price of AR gear will eventually come down to a level that is affordable for the majority of consumers. The problem with quality use cases will also be solved with the development of AR applications.
Join us at Digitalfren as we lead the way in shaping the future of augmented reality. Whether you’re a tech enthusiast, a business looking to innovate, or simply curious about the endless possibilities AR has to offer, we’re here to help you bring your ideas to life. Collaborate with us to unlock new opportunities and transform the way we interact with the world!