Sunday, 30 December 2012

Great Augmented Reality Makes it to the Mainstream! [So Now What?]

I have been awed at the potential power of Augmented Reality since I first saw GE's Smart Grid video - it took over 3 years for the general public to catch up - don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled that i09 has listed Augmented Reality on it's 2012 Most Futuristic Predictions That Came True list as finally making it to the mainstream, but my question to you is - why did it take so long?

Big players, Google and Microsoft most notably, are registering patents left right and center to try and harness as much of this market as possible before others realize what Augmented Reality actually means for everyone - marketers and consumers - especially consumers. The emergence of Augmented Reality as a viable part of our daily lives means that for the first time, people can immerse themselves inside a brand experience  unlike any other medium - this is great for print media - making print more engaging and exciting is not an easy feat now a days - sure there's 3D printing [but that's a topic for another post]...

Educatorsmuseums  and art galleries can also use Augmented Reality to enhance their displays, and bring people into the history (or art) instead of being a passive observer. Augmented Reality Streaming can also be used by out medical professionals to consult on cases from different continents in real time (it's cool you really should check out this technology...)

Augmented Reality is the only medium that lets you become part of the story -  so if you haven't given it a try, take a minute to check out these Top 10 Augmented Reality Examples yourself and ... welcome to the mainstream.

GE Smart Grid Augmented Reality
GE Smart Grid Hologram