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Flying cars and hyperloop were what we expected from the future a few years back. It’s safe to say, we are still not disappointed with what the future has in store for us. We do not have flying cars yet but being able to build and access an immersive world of our own is not bad either, right?
We have been a part of an exodus from a purely physical to an increasingly immersive digital world for years now, but Covid-19 has greatly accelerated this shift. In the coming years, we aim to explore how we can play around with immersive technologies to bridge the gap between the physical and digital worlds.
In 2022, we started witnessing an increased rate of digitization and virtualization of almost every aspect of our lives, be it business, education, healthcare, or the way we socialize.
This digitization has also led to a growing interest and innovation around immersive technologies such as extended reality (XR). A recent study revealed that 60% of the respondents believed extended reality would be accessible and mainstream in the next five years.
What is extended reality (XR)?
You must have heard about Pokemon Go AR mode, where your Pokemon character is anchored to your real-world environment in front of you, or seen superimposed directions on Google maps. But how does that work? – hello to extended reality!
Extended Reality (XR) is an umbrella term that refers to all the immersive technologies, including the ones that already exist – virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR), and the ones that are still being developed.
It is a term that covers all virtual and physical combined environments and human-machine interaction generated by computer technology and wearables.
If you have used the Snapchat AR filters, taken selfies wearing a virtual hairpiece, or had virtual cat ears popped on your head, you have already interacted with the concept of Augmented reality.
Augmented reality (AR) refers to enhanced interactive experiences of the real physical world through computer-generated digital elements.
Whereas, a simulated environment created by computer technology, that can be similar to or totally different from the real physical world is known as Virtual Reality (VR). Anyone can now step into a fully immersive and 3D digital environment by simply using a VR headset.
Mixed Reality (MR) is just a combination of both AR and VR. Microsoft Hololens is a popular example of a commercially available mixed reality device. It projects holograms into your physical surroundings that you can manipulate or interact with.
XR and the Metaverse
Did you ever expect to meet a deceased loved one or have them by your side on your big day? At least we did not! But the current pace of technological advancements in immersive technologies like XR and metaverse has begun to blur out the fine lines between fantasy and reality.
More so, a tech-savvy couple from the South Indian state, Tamil Nadu, hosted their wedding reception in the metaverse with over 6000 attendees worldwide. The twist was the appearance of the bride’s late father as an avatar!.
For those who are still not familiar with the concept of the metaverse, it is an immersive online experience that allows you to see an entirely different three-dimensional artificially created cyberspace in high definition while wearing a VR headset.
Technologies like XR will enable us to explore the possibilities and potential of the metaverse, and other virtual environments where users can meet people from anywhere, interact and play in virtual worlds using their own unique 3D avatars, invest in virtual land, NFTs, or tokens.
Moreover, we can also use MR to bring digital objects to the real-life world, and transform the way we interact with our physical environment, like retail experiences or using AR maps.
It is still hard to tell what life in the metaverse will look like but Meta’s core focus on VR and all its fundamental concepts i.e. avatars, VR interfaces, 3D environment, gamification is a giant step towards the web 3.0 paradigm shift.
More Advanced Headsets and Hardware
When it comes to technology, the process of upgradation never stops, constantly struggling to further develop and provide advanced versions that are smarter (loaded with more features), compact and user-friendly.
For instance, VR headsets have always piqued our interest but as they have to be strapped around our heads, their weight and size have always been a problem. The current focus has been on making VR devices smarter and lightweight.
VR is already enjoying something of a mainstream moment thanks to the rise of the Oculus Rift, Playstation VR, and HTC Vive. But wouldn’t it be amazing if we could step into a virtual environment without having to wear bulky headgear? Various companies, like Magic Leap, are already working on technology that could mean people no longer need to wear heavy gadgets and headsets to enter a virtual world.
Similar efforts are also being invested in further developing AR technology. Manifesting the idea of hands-free, invisible, and wearable technology, a California-based startup Mojo Vision has already demonstrated the potential for AR smart contact lenses. The idea behind it is to replace screens and have the information projected directly onto the retina of your eye through the concept of invisible computing. The lenses include thin-film biosafe batteries to power the system as well as eye-tracking motion sensors that enable a hands-free user interface and let you see in dark/ low light situations, enable real-time translation, and so forth.
Advanced hardware in the coming years will offer more features too, such as Haptic feedback, or kinaesthetic communication, a technology that will solve the problem of providing sensations in extended reality environments.
One appropriate example of this would be the Teslasuit. which uses electrostimulation to provide haptic feedback. It is currently used by NASA to train astronauts. But we hope to see it in small-scale consumer versions soon.
Research and development in such advanced technologies opens the door for more solution-oriented approaches such as enabling realistic movements in the virtual world.
There could be potential issues arising from the size and proportion of the virtual environments that do not always match the real one, especially when you wear a headset in a very small room. Wearing a VR headset, you could see yourself standing on a vast plateau where you could walk endlessly with no obstructions in the way, while in the real world, you could only take a few steps before tripping over something or bumping into a wall.
Different solutions have been proposed (and even developed) to solve this problem. One of the interesting developments is the Ekto VR simulator boots that perform motions contrary to the ones you are actually performing. They are a pair of boots with motorized wheels, designed to track your movement and slightly slide you back to your starting position as soon as you step forward. These boots make virtual environments feel larger than ever before.
As the metaverse tends to become mainstream, the competition in the VR space continues to heat up considering a VR headset is the only gateway into the metaverse. Various big names are also unveiling their AR and VR headsets and smart glasses to tap into the virtual world including PlayStation VR 2 by Sony, MeganeX by Panasonic, NXTWEAR AIR by TCL, and Kokomo (an immersive VR calling platform) by Canon, to name a few.
XR in Corporate Training and Education
A never-ending list of expenses and preparations including the cost of travel, accommodation, training equipment, and so forth makes corporate events a hassle.
But all this can be turned around by leveraging immersive technologies like VR, AR, and MR, helping companies efficiently utilize their resources and simultaneously cut down on expenses. Numerous Fortune 500 companies have already begun to utilize XR to upscale their employee performance.
The countless benefits and unprecedented impact created by technologies like VR make them a game-changer, offering convenience, endless environmental designs, monetization, and unlimited attendance for employee training and other corporate activities This means that corporate training is no more an expense but an investment.
AR/VR can also be used to train and simulate operations in hazardous and emergency situations. For instance, the FLAIM system, a fully immersive VR learning solution, is used to train firefighters to tackle serious situations like wildfires and aircraft fires. Similarly, AR has made its way into the AirForce as well, as it has revolutionized the way AirForce trains and performs aircraft maintenance.
Anatomy students are also leveraging XR to create highly detailed 3D anatomical models. Technologies like Hololens allow you to see structures that would be really difficult to see in a cadaver such as the lymphatic or ductal system.
XR is also used to train students for complex surgeries before the actual procedures. Virtual images can be laid on top of real-life subjects and help them with diagnosis, surgeries, and so forth. The Intervention Center at Oslo University Hospital has already begun testing AR for laparoscopic surgery.
XR in Retail
If the advent of online shopping was good news for shopaholics, XR is all set to bring them great news by transforming the online shopping experience.
Imagine relaxing in your living room while virtually strolling around in the shopping stores in the virtual world while your digital avatars use the ‘try before you buy feature’ before you make a purchase. In an immersive shopping experience, your digital avatars can try on clothing and jewelry items for you.
Rumors also circulated that H&M had opened its first virtual retail store in the metaverse, absolutely identical to its physical store but turns out, it was only a concept video and not the actual implementation of the idea.
AR also transforms your shopping experience if you prefer to shop in stores instead of online. We expect to see more virtual mirrors/ fitting rooms which will add to the convenience (enhance customer experience), save time, and support online sales. The virtual fitting room market is projected to grow to $6.5 million by 2025.
Are you interested in exploring the cost of augmented reality mobile app development? At CitrusBits, we specialize in building innovative and immersive experiences using augmented reality frameworks. Our team of experts can help you bring your vision to life by creating high-quality augmented reality apps.
If you’re looking to build an augmented reality app, we have the skills and expertise to make it happen. Our developers are experienced in working with various augmented reality frameworks and can choose the best one to suit your project’s requirements.
In addition to augmented reality, we also excel in virtual reality (VR) app development. Whether you want to create immersive games, training simulations, or interactive experiences, we can develop VR apps that meet your needs.
Furthermore, we stay at the forefront of technology and are well-versed in extended reality (XR) app development. XR combines augmented reality, virtual reality, and mixed reality to create even more compelling and interactive experiences.
To discuss your project and learn more about the development cost for augmented reality apps, augmented reality frameworks, building augmented reality apps, VR app development, and extended reality app development, feel free to reach out to us. Let’s collaborate to turn your ideas into reality and shape the future of virtual collaboration.
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