Being a sci-fi fan I've always thought of what life would be like living in a high tech world. Think Ernest Cline’s Ready player one, a world where virtual reality is king and also the reality we chose to spend most of our time in. Or perhaps having the tech of iron-man, how easy would life be with a personal assistant such as Friday or Jarvis?!

Comparing sci-fi books and movies to what we have now is often disappointing (unless the movie depicts a hyper capitalist cyberpunk dystopia.. then i’m good thanks). But these days we aren't so far away from living the lives of characters from our favourite movies. Technology is evolving fast and it will take people like you, the reader, to push its limits. Technology like Augmented reality.

 Augmented Reality (AR) refers to digital elements that overlap with physical elements in order to alter our interaction with the real-world. Think face filters, or Apple Maps AR feature where you can use your camera to guide you down a street. Augmented reality applies context to our lives via digital means.

Back in 2018 we posted about how to use AR features within email, being one of the first to actually try it out got us very excited. Now a few years later, we want to take a look at how AR has migrated into other technologies and the benefits that it may bring us in our day to day lives.

So, how can we make the most of it? Let's dive into some examples:

A tool for clothing and expression

Have you ever wondered what that outfit you saw on instagram would look like on you, or how about those shoes that person on the train was wearing? It is now possible to try on clothing virtually with the use of a filter.

The potential for AR within personal expression and clothing isn't limited to just trying on clothes using your phone camera. Brands could soon offer AR experiences within their stores and other touch points (think email!)

Design, Products and Visualisation

During the pandemic lockdowns, designers were forced into isolation. Once collaborative creatures, we had to project ourselves using Zoom - not the most collaborative or creative output. Coming from a background in product design, I saw fellow designers and mentors utilise AR to better communicate their designs. Where there were limitations on delivering physical products, designers were able to utilise 3D models using AR to visualise their products in a familiar environment.

Thinking of giving your hallway a makeover? Or invest in a new sofa? How about that new TV you’ve been eyeing up. Why imagine when we can now easily visualise those specific products and ideas?

Brands such as IKEA and Sherwin-Williams are leading in home uses of AR. Aiming to benefit their customers by allowing them to visualise their products in the same way their product designers do. Giving them a hands on experience that could take them from searching and scrolling to actually checking out and purchasing.

Location, Location, Location

We have all been there, looping the aisles at a supermarket, too embarrassed to ask where the eggs are. Only to find them in the aisle you have been up and down a million times. It’s times like those where we wish we had a helping hand to get us in the right place. We have our Apple and Google maps, but using your phone camera to direct you in these specific situations could be life changing especially for those with sight problems or needing more assistance.

How is AR guidance accessible?

AR may not seem to be the most accessible thing to those with sight difficulties or no sight at all. But a company in France is in the process of developing an app which utilizes AR and spatial sound to help the blind navigate. This combination of technologies allows AR to overlay digital onto physical, then uses sound to relay it back to the user allowing them to have real time information fed to them.

How far can AR go?

As AR is further adopted by brands for retail uses, the aforementioned supermarket story will be a distant memory. It is possible that we could do our weekly shops and go directly to the items we need without any hassle. Imagine that?! Using AR to find places, objects and people has the potential to be developed in conjunction with other devices. The internet of things (IOT) is a network of physical devices that can exchange information over the internet. Things like laptops, refrigerators, thermostats, apple tags. When working together with AR, losing objects could be a thing of the past.

As AR devices become more accessible, we will begin to see more enhanced applications of the aforementioned use cases. Because at this point in time, we are only limited by the tools available right now.  Just like todays Nokia phone user, tomorrows AR users will wonder why we’re not up to date!