TechCrunch on AR – Let’s Fix Things That Could Become Big Problems
An article on Tech Crunch by Alex Hertel, Co-founder of Xperiel speaks of the pitfalls to watch out for with augmented reality technology, particularly in business. The author suggests that issues that could become big problems are the ones to focus on now.
Followers of the AREA will know that we are working hard via research and collaboration with our members and thought leaders in the industry to overcome pitfalls such as these. You may be interested in reading the executive summary of our recent research on security of enterprise wearables.
As the author states, with any new technology, there are inherent risks we should acknowledge, anticipate, and deal with as soon as possible. If we do so, these technologies are likely to continue to thrive. Some industry watchers are forecasting a combined AR/VR market value of $108 billion by 2021, as businesses of all sizes take advantage of AR to change the way their customers interact with the world around them in ways previously only possible in science fiction.
The issues discussed as serious privacy and security pitfalls, including dangers to physical safety, that as an industry we need to collectively avoid.
There are also ongoing threats from cyber criminals and nation states bent on political chaos and worse — to say nothing of teenagers who can be easily distracted and fail to exercise judgement — all creating virtual landmines that could slow or even derail the success of AR. We love AR, and that’s why we’re calling out these issues now to raise awareness.
Without widespread familiarity with the potential pitfalls, as well as robust self-regulation, AR will not only suffer from systemic security issues, it may be subject to stringent government oversight, slowing innovation, or even threaten existing First Amendment rights. In a climate where technology has come under attack from many fronts for unintended consequences and vulnerabilities, we should work together to make sure this doesn’t happen.
Because AR by design blurs the divide between the digital and real worlds, threats to physical safety, job security, and digital identity can emerge in ways that were simply inconceivable in a world populated solely by traditional computers.
The full article can be read here.