15 Industries Using Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality
Which industries are adopting augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR)?
The growing application of AR and VR in various industries has been increasing the demand for novel AR/VR technologies and solutions. Developers and companies from different types of industries use echo3D to build their 3D/AR/VR app backend with ease and manage & deliver 3D content to devices everywhere for a variety of use cases, including healthcare, education, e-commerce, training, navigation, and gaming.
Here just of the most prominent 15 use cases of AR/VR (in no particular order):
Shopping
Developers use AR technology to build “try before you buy” experiences. Big companies like Amazon, Gucci, ASOS, and Sephora already have AR apps available to customers. Another prime example is the furniture and appliance retailer IKEA, which allows users to digitally visualize furniture in their home using the IKEA Place app on a mobile device. Clothing retailers such as Uniqlo and American Apparel are providing virtual fitting rooms to enhance the shopping experience. The global virtual fitting room market is projected to grow from USD $3.5 billion to $12.97 billion from 2021 to 2028.
Peter Sellis, Snap Inc.’s VP of product, noted that innovating virtual try-ons with their lenses is one of their key priorities. In a survey done by Snap Inc. Technology, they found that 56% of consumers who used AR when shopping claimed it encouraged them to make a purchase. Furthermore, a survey by IDC found that the third most common use case of AR within enterprises was product demonstration to drive sales processes.
You can read more here about how AR is redefining online shopping as well as the furniture and fashion industries.
Gaming & Social
Developers build world-scale experiences using AR and VR. Records show that in 2019, 2.8 million units of standalone VR gaming headsets were shipped worldwide. Moreover, 37% of surveyed global game developers indicate that VR headsets contribute to significant growth of the gaming industry. Virtual worlds like those of Decentraland, and Meta’s Horizon are already generating massive user attention.
In the AR space, a prime example is Pokémon Go which in May 2018 boasted 147 million monthly active users. The game allows users to interact with digital monsters in the real world. Another example is the social media mobile app Snapchat (with 360M monthly active users as of January 2020), which allows users to overlay 3D assets on their face and surrounding environment.
Read more here about how 3D is impacting the future of gaming and how the 3D metaverse is shaping up around us.
Navigation
AR is being used for both outdoor and indoor navigation purposes. With more bandwidth and readily available WiFi and Bluetooth connections, AR navigation has never been more convenient. One example of this use case is Google Maps’ AR Navigation, which allows the user to see pathfinding indicators in the real world while walking around town. Apple’s ARKit 5 includes many AR navigation compatibles which offer users improved motions of tacking, expanded support for location anchors, and more.
Learn more here about how AR is revolutionizing driving and navigation and changing the automobile industry.
Training
Developers build utility tools for education, military use, labor, factories, etc., allowing users to learn, train, collaborate, or perform tasks. For example, the United States army has spent US $479 million on AR headsets to be used for military training. The Synthetic Training Environment (STE) that is utilized by the US Army allows soldiers to immerse themselves in AR and VR provided through the Microsoft HoloLens 2 to be prepared for a multitude of scenarios (source).
Realizing the opportunities in AR adoption, many AR-focused companies and startups have emerged focusing on integrating enterprise-level AR training solutions in the industrial space. Learn more here about how AR is transforming manufacturing and how companies use VR for industrial training.
Healthcare
Developers build utility tools to assist physicians and caregivers in obtaining better procedure outcomes and improve patient wellbeing. An example includes SentiAR, a company that is building AR tools to guide surgeons during invasive procedures. Another example is AccuVein Inc., a US-based medical imaging solutions provider that uses AR technology to help doctors locate veins in patients. Our very own Alon Grinshpoon, CEO of echo3D, has contributed to the research on AR and its use in medical procedures such as vascular interventions prior to founding the company . Healthcare is considered a leading vertical of AR and VR, with the technology revolutionizing patients’ diagnosis and treatment, surgeons’ training, operating room simulations, chronic pain management, and more.
Learn more here about how AR and VR are revolutionizing healthcare and how different companies use VR to therapy and medical training.
Work Productivity
AR and VR are making our workplaces smarter, more productive, and safer. AR/VR use cases include boosting worker productivity, enhancing collaboration, and increasing workplace safety. A survey published by IDC in 2022 shows that employee training is the most common use case for AR by enterprises (50%), closely followed by internal collaboration tools for interactive videoconferencing (48%). Improved real-time collaboration (41%) is also the number one perceived benefit from AR/VR to businesses, followed by increased worker efficiency (38%), then improved design and manufacturing processes (33%), and finally an improved knowledge transfer between expert and novice workers (29%). Spatial is one tool that leverages AR to allow people to work together virtually and seamlessly. Put on a set of AR goggles to see your virtual workspace . In the VR space, Meta announced Infinite Office, a virtual reality office space which brings your work to VR. A real-life Logitech keyboard will also be able to be seen in VR.
Learn more here about AR and the future of the work environment.
Sports
AR/VR provide immersive experiences, as sports channels can utilize 3D graphics to overlay replays and live gameplay. Many sports channels are already experimenting with this technology, including ESPN and Fox Sports, and are incorporating AR as part of their broadcasting and play-by-play analysis to highlight information about the game in real-time. In addition to better at-home experience, AR is used for in-stadium experience, building team spirit, marketing, and even on-field rulings. Most recently, the Carolina Panthers showcased the possibilities of AR for live sporting.
Learn more here about all the ways augmented reality and virtual reality are shaping sports.
Education
Students are adopting AR/VR applications for an interactive learning experience in the comfort of their own homes. Google Arts & Culture, for example, is working to bring AR/VR content to schools by expanding learning beyond the classroom walls. While students are learning about a specific region, Google Arts & Culture can take the students on virtual field trips and display interesting facts about specific landmarks they come across in their virtual travels. zSpace, a California based company, is also pioneering AR/VR applications for K-12 education, career and technical education, and postsecondary and advanced sciences.
Learn more here about how AR/VR is transforming education and making remote learning better.
Travel
Traveling is all about exploring new places, sightseeing, and appreciating what the destination has to offer. AR/VR can enhance or even replace these experiences in various ways. For example, MARS Storytelling makes historical sites and visitor centers come alive with personalized AR experiences, making the visit more engaging. Berlin-based Zaubar enables city tours powered by AR that immerse you in 3D learning experiences about a city’s past and present. Asbury Park in New Jersey also offers its own unique and free-of-charge AR tour that reconstructs key historic landmarks in AR on the Asbury Park boardwalk (source). Additionally, Disney Cruise Line is expected to debut their new interactive experience, Disney Uncharted Adventure, onboard its new cruise ship, the Disney Wish.
The VR tourism scene is also rapidly innovating. Already, the Oculus Quest 2 is making big waves as an advanced, impactful, and multiuse VR headset that can be used to travel the world. The Oculus store currently offers more than 80 travel-related experiences. For example, by downloading the National Geographic VR app, users can kayak in Antarctica or trek through the Inca temples of Machu Picchu with all senses immersed, creating a cinematic experience.
Read more here about how AR will improve your next travel experience and how AR & VR are redefining tourism in a post-COVID world.
Policing
VR is regarded by many as the “next step in police training.” Companies like SurviVR, Axon, Apex Officer, NSENA VR, and Street Smarts VR are redefining how first responders train by offering fully-immersive VR training simulators and other VR training solutions. Police and public safety officers can practice real world scenarios in a virtual setting, focusing on de-escalation techniques and conflict management skills. Since 2019, the NYPD has been using VR to train for active shootings and real-life scenarios. AR is also used for mission management for airborne law enforcement. Churchill Navigation allows airborne law enforcement operators to view streets, addresses, businesses, infrastructures, vehicle locations, etc., directly on top of sensor videos of choppers and drones in real time. The AR overlay on a singular display provides a comprehensive analysis that can assist in stopping hot pursuits and other high-risk situations.
Read more here about AR/VR and the future of policing.
Live Concerts
VR is being used for a new kind of immersive and interactive music experience, with artists like Billie Eilish, John Legend, Deadmau5, and Travis Scott performing in VR for millions of fans around the world. With the COVID-19 pandemic interrupting live performances, The Weekend also utilized a digital avatar and 3D visuals to put together an AR concert on TikTok that garnered over 230,000 live viewers.
Learn more about how VR is changing the music industry and the possibilities of AR for live events.
Real Estate
From virtual property staging to property showcasing and 3D architectural visualization, AR/VR is taking over the entire spectrum of transactions within the real estate market. A survey conducted by the National Association of Realtors divulged that 73% of clients are looking for new homes and properties using a mobile website or app. As a result, there is great potential in harnessing innovative AR/VR technologies to benefit the consumer experience. Rooomy is a virtual staging service that uses virtual reality to stage homes for individual buyers, saving the brokerage firm thousands of dollars and valuable listing time to streamline the house hunting process. Matter, a company based in Israel, helps real estate firms create interactive property tours.
Learn more here about how AR/VR are transforming the real estate industry.
Remote Assistance
AR remote assistance is an emerging technology that enables brand agents and product experts to visually guide and collaborate with customers and field technicians. AR can help technicians gain immediate access to remote experts, streamline the field service process, quickly execute field repairs, and also communicate with customers. AR remote assistance combines live video and audio feeds along with 3D objects that are superimposed directly onto the users’ physical environments. See here of a list of top five AR remote assistance tools for business or personal use.
Food Services
AR is used to empower restaurants, delivery services, and other vendors in the food service industry. AR is applied in a variety of cases, from streamlining staff training, through visualizing dishes and menus, to enhancing the customer experience. A recent 2021 market research report from ResearchandMarkets.com supports the notion that AR has the ability to transform numerous industries, including the food service industry.
Bareburger, the successful east-coast burger chain, has introduced AR menus that allow customers to view menu items like burgers and onion rings by using Snapchat’s AR technology. AR technology is also used by food and drink brands to supplement their packaging by providing additional virtual information on top of physical labels. 19 Crimes has used AR to enhance their wine bottles and provide more information on the pictures of 18th century British prisoners highlighted on their bottle labels.
Learn more here about how augmented reality is reshaping the food service industry.
Marketing
AR/VR are revolutionizing existing marketing strategies and is helping to draw the attention from consumers. Nike and Snapchat’s campaign of “dunking with LeBron James” using AR technology is a great viral example of AR application in marketing. Pepsi Max transformed a bus station into a AR experience in which bystanders must giant robots or notice pedestrians being abducted by flying saucers or monster tentacles rising up from the sewers. Lego offers in-store AR experiences and many other companies integrate AR in the marketing of their products. ASOS also published a campaign on Instagram with AR company Lenslist with a face lens that customer could use to explore what kind of shopper they are. And finally, companies such as Balenciaga have begun designing and selling virtual designer clothing for metaverse. Last year, Gucci even created a VR fashion exhibit on Roblox.
See here to learn more about how AR is changing the marketing world as well as popular strategies for marketing in the metaverse.
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echo3D (www.echo3D.co; Techstars 19’) is a cloud platform for 3D/AR/VR that provides tools and network infrastructure to help developers & companies quickly build and deploy 3D apps, games, and content.
