Why Augmented Reality Draws Attention?
Why Augmented Reality Draws Attention?
  • By Yang Ye-eun (info@koreaittimes.com)
  • 승인 2016.03.07 10:46
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Augmented Reality (Image source: Areal App screenshot)

Two future-oriented technologies -- Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality -- are emerging as the next big thing in the information technology industry, according to industry watchers.

Augmented Reality technology first appeared in the form of adding virtual images to the process of airplane construction at the American airplane maker Boeing in the 1990s. To put it simply, the technology shows 3D virtual image overlapped with the real background. It is currently being used in diverse fields including game, education, commercial and navigation which can be linked with information technology.

The street view function used for Korean search giant Naver's map is also part of virtual technology used in the form of indicating directions of augmented graphics on real streets. Virtual Reality, however, uses virtual images for both objects and the surroundings.

According to the report published by the U.K. investment bank Digi-Capital, the business volume of augmented reality and virtual reality is currently set to stand at around $5 billion. However, the industry is expected to surge to $150 billion by 2020.

The growth and investment volume of augmented reality is expected to be faster than virtual reality, according to industry watchers. The augmented reality market is expected to jump to $120 billion by 2020, four times the virtual reality, which is set to grow to $30 billion during the same period.

Samsung showcases its new VR product

Currently, global IT giants such as Apple, Samsung, Facebook, Microsoft and Sony are spurring their development of augmented reality, by highly rating the value of the technology.

What is the reasons Unlike virtual reality, which only deals with virtual images, augmented reality can draw users' interest with a combination of reality and imagination.

It can also be used for business marketing. Multinational furniture company IKEA has drawn much attention from the users by launching an app which shows virtual arrangement of the furniture in their home.

The augmented reality technology is also being researched in the game industry as it improves the immersion of users by combining reality and imagination.

The initial augmented reality game is "A.R GUN," which users can enjoy by connecting the game gun to smartphones via Bluetooth. They can fight game characters with the reality background reflected through camera.

The augmented reality technology is expected to gain more momentum by combining with smartphones. The augmented reality technology, which combines reality and virtual graphics, needs IT devices and applications such as camera, GPS and apps.

Thus, digital devices such as smartphones and tablets are expected to be an aggregate of augmented reality technology. The technology is set to constantly grow as it meets mobile and it is also becoming IT firms' future-oriented business strategy.

For its part, Apple has separately set up a research center for augmented reality within the company. Here, some devices samples equipped with augmented and virtual reality technologies were reportedly developed through hundreds of researchers and developers.

Samsung Electronics has also shown interest in augmented and virtual reality technologies a long time ago. Samsung launched Gear VR by jointly developing with Oculus bought by Facebook. Facebook reportedly ordered 8,000 Gear VR worth around $1 billion in order to distribute them to their employees.

Due to the weak smartphone sales, smartphone makers are paying attention to the technology value of augmented and virtual reality.

Industry watchers said companies which take the lead in launching diverse services using the technology will lead the future IT industry.


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