Summary
Augmented Reality is a huge upcoming technology.
The technological requirements are explained.
Some major industries that will be affected are listed.
Augmented Reality (or AR) is a new technology that is receiving a lot of attention. This article will detail the technology and highlight some of the implications for the investor.
Alphabet, Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) (NASDAQ:GOOGL) has its new Lenstechnology that will literally understand what you are pointing your smartphone camera at, and display relevant information. [More here]
With Google Lens, your smartphone camera won’t just see what you see, but will also understand what you see to help you take action.#io17 pic.twitter.com/viOmWFjqk1
– Google (@Google) May 17, 2017
Then, of course, there is the rage in games, Pokémon Go by Niantic (private) and Nintendo (OTCPK:NTDOY), where fantastic creatures pop up on your screen along your daily walk around town. This is another example of AR.
Finally, Apple’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) CEO Tim Cook has said:
I regard it as a big idea like the smartphone. The smartphone is for everyone, we don’t have to think the iPhone is about a certain demographic or country or vertical market: It’s for everyone. I think AR is that big, it’s huge.” [Market Watch]
So questions for investors are:
What exactly is Augmented Reality?
Why is it so huge?
What are the technical implications/hurdles?
Since many articles have been written on the first two points, I will focus on the technical issues in order to give the investor a deeper understanding of the various pieces of the AR puzzle, and hence a better view of the plethora of opportunities.
What is AR?
Simply put, AR is the display of some sort of data superimposed over a visual view of the real world. This view might be on a smartphone or tablet, special glasses, or some other device.
Source: Seeking Alpha