A blog on forbes.com has stated that the future of work will dramatically change due to new technologies, one of which is Augmented Reality. Writer Maribel Lopez explains how in her research where she asks companies which technologies they are evaluating, and what new workplace experiences they are exploring, last year, most companies considered AR as a consumer gaming technology. Today, according to Lopez, companies are investigating AR as a way to make data more accessible and easier to understand; Augmented Reality in the workplace has the potential to deliver collaboration improvements and make hands-free data access easier.

A multitude of organizations and roles may trial and implement AR into the workplace, the article says, from knowledge workers viewing digital dashboards to a factory manager having equipment health displayed via a digital overlay.

Leaders are experiencing the benefits of Augmented Reality in the workplace and to improve product designs. Two enterprise examples quoted in the article are:

• Elevator manufacturer ThysenKrupp is using Microsoft’s HoloLens so that technicians can visualize the elevator repair before arriving on site. When the technician reaches the site, they can use AR to view repair guides and digital overlays of manuals while fixing the elevator.
• Augmented Reality is used by Bechtel via tablets to advance construction by replacing paper documents. It also lets engineers visualize walls and other items onsite.

There have been many reports this week that Apple is combining their iPhone’s camera app with Augmented Reality technology. (For example, on Business Insider).

Apple wants the addition of AR into the iPhone’s camera software to enable consumers to point their phones at a real-world object and have the iPhone recognize it. Another potential feature to be implemented with the use of AR within the camera app could be recognition and manipulation of people’s faces; in the most recent version of its iOS software, Apple incorporated facial recognition technology into the photos app.

Employees from Metaio and Flyby Media, AR technology companies acquired by Apple over recent years, are working in Apple’s camera group. When the Augmented Reality features are built into the iPhone camera app, the technology will be released by Apple as an SDK for app developers; the same way the Touch ID fingerprint sensor was released.

According to sources, Apple is working on a pair of smart glasses in order to pair them to an iPhone, and have employed John Border, previously Chief Engineer at Osterhout Design Group. The Business Insider article claims that Border is potentially moving Apple’s smart glasses project out of the exploration labs and into a more advanced stage.

An article appeared on TechTarget addressing the ‘experimental’ nature of Augmented Reality in the Enterprise. The article’s line of thought follows the extent to which Augmented Reality is being adopted in the enterprise, as businesses must work out its best uses, cost versus ROI and user acceptance.

Both Christine Perey, AREA Board member and former Executive Director, and The AREA’s current Executive Director Mark Sage, are quoted in this article.

Issues mentioned in the article include confusion around the difference between AR & VR, which is addressed and the fact that mobile apps are only 1 way to deliver Augmented Reality (others being wearables, smartglasses, head mounted displays and other hands free devices).

The state of the AR Market is touched upon including the industry early adopters. Popular uses are summarised, such as inspections, design reviews and in highly complex environments. The article offers a high level overview for industry decision makers looking for a greater understanding of how Augmented Reality can help in their enterprise.

The AREA also offers a huge range of resources for enterprise users and membership. Do take a look around our website for more information or get in touch!

Israeli Augmented Reality company Infinity AR is raising an $18 million round of finance, reports e27. This will bring the company’s valuation up to US $60 million. Investment is said to come from Alibaba and Sun Corporation. The post also reports that Infinity AR has left the public market.

Working in the field of AR, Infinity is developing an SDK to help incorporate virtual images over physical objects with uses in training and remote assistance.

A post on Farm Industry News blog showed industry excitement about the possibility of using Augmented Reality on the farm. Whilst the article concedes that it may be some time before the technology is mainstream in farming, there are plenty of uses that the post encourages readers to consider:

• Interacting with projection of farm building models, e.g. segmenting sections and “going inside”
• Visioning potential for farm equipment manufacturers
• Could reduce costly errors even at the design stage
• Live yield maps and access to real-time weather data whilst on the farm
• Potential for wearable or windshield technology to be used

WhaTech posted an article reporting on a study by The Insight Partners which analyses the Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality market to 2025. The report segments the ARVR market into technology, components, end-user industry, and geography.

It is predicted that the ARVR market will reach $130.01 billion by the year 2025, compared to $4.25 billion in 2015. In addition, developments of Mixed Reality are said to boost ARVR usage, and VR is expected to lose market share to AR.

Component segments in the report are:

• Sensors
• Semiconductor components
• Others
• Geographical regions studied in the report are:
• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• South Africa

End-user industries studied in the report include:

• Education
• Entertainment
• Medical
• Real Estate and Architecture
• Retail
• Industrial
• Aerospace and Defense

Key players in the market profiled in the report include:

• AREA member DAQRI
• AREA member Catchoom
• Microsoft Corporation
• Blippar
• Oculus VR
• Vuzix Corporation
• Marxent Labs LLC

In 2015, North America held the major share of the ARVR market, due to leading tech companies such as Microsoft and Google, Inc., as well as complex internet infrastructure. Europe was the second leader of the ARVR market in 2015, and was led by the UK; however, it is estimated that the UK will lose its share to Germany from 2016 to 2025. Asia-Pacific is predicted to grow at a rate of 47.7% until 2025.

A report has been released by 9D Research Group, analyzing the Global Automotive Augmented Reality Industry.

Aspects of the market mentioned in the report include:

• Market drivers
• Market restraints
• Market opportunities
• Market challenges
• Inputs from leading industry experts
• Segments and sub-segments in the industry
• Performance analysis of the segments
• Evaluation of trends that will influence growth prospects of the segments
• Niche segments with growth potential and established companies in the market
• Market forecast and estimates for each segment
• The market’s leading players, consumers, clients, client distributors, and vendors
• Analysis of leading market players
• New project SWOT analysis
• Investment feasibility / return analysis
• Development trend analysis

Last week, EINPresswire released a report analyzing the Mobile Augmented Reality Market in the Asia-Pacific region. Augmented Reality is being used by enterprises for advertising and marketing purposes in Asia-Pacific, and is expected to increase at a compound annual growth rate of 135.35% from 2014 to 2019 in this region.

Key points covered in the report include:

• Market overview
• Market research methodology
• Technology life style
• Market landscape
• Market drivers
• Market challenges
• Market trends
• Analysis of major vendors in the market
• Ecosystem of the market
• AR engine, software applications, hardware

Key vendors mentioned in the report include:

• AREA member Catchoom
• AREA member NGRAIN
• Blippar
• Qualcomm
• Aurasma
• Wikitude
• Metaio
• Zappar

A press release dated November 9 2016 is available. Scope AR is an AREA member providing advanced AR training solutions. Scope AR has announced a licence with Caterpillar Inc to provide an Augmented Reality based live support video calling platform built specifically for the unique remote assistance needs of industries using heavy machinery. A first-of-its kind partnership, Scope AR and Caterpillar are delivering the unprecedented ability for the Caterpillar dealer network to leverage the benefits of augmented reality (AR) for live support in repairing, troubleshooting a problem or conducting maintenance on equipment.

Scope AR’s platform will be available to more than 160 Cat dealers, Cat machinery users and others under the Cat brand worldwide.

The full press release can be read here.

A conference, AR in China, was recently held in Gui’An. A summary article (link here) noted important points from the conference, including:

• Augmented Reality works best in apps when consumers are unaware that AR is involved.
• B2B will be a significant driver of Augmented and Mixed Reality, as companies will invest in such technology to reduce errors, save costs, and improve efficiency.
• Brands should focus their value proposition be making relevant apps.
• One of the most important components of headsets is the quality of the lenses.
• The aim of the Virtual Reality Summit was to bring together support for business development, content creation, hardware and software innovation, manufacturing, financing, and infrastructure.
• In February, Alibaba (China’s e-commerce leader) led the $800 million Series C round for the Mixed Reality startup Magic Leap, based in Florida.
• The AR, VR, and MR field is connecting companies and creators across the globe.