

The future has arrived: Augmented Reality and the new normal
From Gartner's Hype Cycle to AR-enabled devices and increased enterprise adoption
In last year’s roundup, we forecasted an increase in the uptake of AR technology. This has actually happened, but little did we expect a pandemic to be a major force of digital transformation’s acceleration. Despite Covid-19 challenges, 2020 has been an impressive year for the Augmented Reality sector with an increased technology adoption rate and big steps in research and development. Here is a selection of the best news of the year worth rereading.
First and foremost, AR has officially become a mature technology as it is not included among Gartner’s Hype Cycle of upcoming innovations anymore. Numerous real use cases, not just pilot projects, implemented in the last two years within industrial companies, allowed AR to advance quickly.
The new normal of remote work has prompted many companies to use AR-based applications to provide assistance and interact in real-time with customers or on-field technicians. For instance, at the beginning of the pandemic, we worked with CommScope, the global network infrastructure provider, to help them with remote system installations through our Smart Assistance solution.
Furthermore, the growth and spreading of Augmented Reality are driven by large tech companies. Apple showed is investing in AR for the long run by embedding Sony’s LiDAR camera system on iPad Pro and iPhone 12 Pro, thus giving consumers powerful devices to encourage AR experiences. Facebook as well started Project Aria to test the usability, features, and social implications of its future smart glasses.
In the meantime, one of the biggest news of the year has been the unveiling of two smart contact lens projects, which will open new options for a more natural spatial computing interaction.
Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the next issues directly in your inbox!
The future has arrived: Augmented Reality and the new normal
From Gartner's Hype Cycle to AR-enabled devices and increased enterprise adoption
In last year’s roundup, we forecasted an increase in the uptake of AR technology. This has actually happened, but little did we expect a pandemic to be a major force of digital transformation’s acceleration. Despite Covid-19 challenges, 2020 has been an impressive year for the Augmented Reality sector with an increased technology adoption rate and big steps in research and development. Here is a selection of the best news of the year worth rereading.
First and foremost, AR has officially become a mature technology as it is not included among Gartner’s Hype Cycle of upcoming innovations anymore. Numerous real use cases, not just pilot projects, implemented in the last two years within industrial companies, allowed AR to advance quickly.
The new normal of remote work has prompted many companies to use AR-based applications to provide assistance and interact in real-time with customers or on-field technicians. For instance, at the beginning of the pandemic, we worked with CommScope, the global network infrastructure provider, to help them with remote system installations through our Smart Assistance solution.
Furthermore, the growth and spreading of Augmented Reality are driven by large tech companies. Apple showed is investing in AR for the long run by embedding Sony’s LiDAR camera system on iPad Pro and iPhone 12 Pro, thus giving consumers powerful devices to encourage AR experiences. Facebook as well started Project Aria to test the usability, features, and social implications of its future smart glasses.
In the meantime, one of the biggest news of the year has been the unveiling of two smart contact lens projects, which will open new options for a more natural spatial computing interaction.
Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the next issues directly in your inbox!
Augmented Reality disappeared from Gartner’s Hype Cycle
The 2020 edition of the Gartner Hype Cycle has officially cut out Augmented Reality from upcoming technologies. That is because AR has reached a more mature phase sooner than the expected 5-10 years projection. Countless use cases demonstrating strong ROI, especially during the Covid19 pandemic, are boosting AR technology adoption. Read on AR Post
Augmented Reality disappeared from Gartner’s Hype Cycle
The 2020 edition of the Gartner Hype Cycle has officially cut out Augmented Reality from upcoming technologies. That is because AR has reached a more mature phase sooner than the expected 5-10 years projection. Countless use cases demonstrating strong ROI, especially during the Covid19 pandemic, are boosting AR technology adoption. Read on AR Post
Covid-19: companies choose Augmented Reality
The use of AR tools during the epidemic ensured that critical operations such as sales or customer assistance to clients and field technicians engaged in maintenance and repair work continued. CommScope, a global network infrastructure provider, turned to JoinPad to improve the remote configuration of the platform imVision for its customers. Read on JoinPad
Covid-19: companies choose Augmented Reality
The use of AR tools during the epidemic ensured that critical operations such as sales or customer assistance to clients and field technicians engaged in maintenance and repair work continued. CommScope, a global network infrastructure provider, turned to JoinPad to improve the remote configuration of the platform imVision for its customers. Read on JoinPad
Facebook’s super-smart AR glasses you’ll actually want to wear
Facebook steps up its game in the AR Glasses with Project Aria: some of its employees will soon be wearing research Smart Glasses in their daily lives to gather data on usability for the future device. The Project Chief Scientist shares the biggest challenges to overcome in the next years. Read on Fast Company
Facebook’s super-smart AR glasses you’ll actually want to wear
Facebook steps up its game in the AR Glasses with Project Aria: some of its employees will soon be wearing research Smart Glasses in their daily lives to gather data on usability for the future device. The Project Chief Scientist shares the biggest challenges to overcome in the next years. Read on Fast Company
The iPhone 12 Pro camera will use Sony’s LiDAR
Among the many iPhone 12 features, one is particularly interesting for the AR ecosystem, namely the presence of Sony LiDAR depth camera on the Pro models. The new system can precisely measure objects’ distance from the camera lens, allowing developers to create better AR experiences, more accurate and realistic even in low-light contexts. Read on Fast Company
Smart contact lenses: companies are close to success
Mojo Vision and Innovega are two of the most active companies trying to design contact lenses to display information in Augmented Reality in front of your eyes. Both have already overcome countless manufacturing challenges and are now being tested for medical approval. By late 2021 the lenses could be launched on the market, for people with visual impairments. Read on Business Insider
I feel that Augmented Reality is perhaps the ultimate computer.
— Satya Nadella
2020 proved Augmented Reality is a technology here to stay, adding incredible business value across industries, from manufacturing to logistics and gaming.
We cannot wait to see what 2021 has in store for the AR ecosystem! We expect all-new smart glasses models, the first FDA-approved prototypes of smart lenses, and ever-increasing technology adoption. Above all, as JoinPad, we will continue to improve our solutions with new functionalities and work on new projects in partnership with Samsung, Qualcomm, and LLVision.
Thank you for reading the State of the ARt newsletter in 2020. See you next year!
What’s your take on this month’s articles? Remember to sign up to our newsletter to receive the next issues directly in your inbox and share your thoughts in the comments!
About JoinPad
JoinPad is a leading global Augmented Reality company founded in 2010. With the HQ based in Italy, JoinPad has today business offices located in the USA, China, and Brazil. The company develops and distributes Augmented Reality solutions, including the related consultancy, aimed at simplifying the customer’s industrial business processes, providing innovative tools to interact with the environment.
If you want to discover more about how to get started with Augmented Reality,
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Smart contact lenses: companies are close to success
Mojo Vision and Innovega are two of the most active companies trying to design contact lenses to display information in Augmented Reality in front of your eyes. Both have already overcome countless manufacturing challenges and are now being tested for medical approval. By late 2021 the lenses could be launched on the market, for people with visual impairments. Read on Business Insider
I feel that Augmented Reality is perhaps the ultimate computer.
— Satya Nadella
2020 proved Augmented Reality is a technology here to stay, adding incredible business value across industries, from manufacturing to logistics and gaming.
We cannot wait to see what 2021 has in store for the AR ecosystem! We expect all-new smart glasses models, the first FDA-approved prototypes of smart lenses, and ever-increasing technology adoption. Above all, as JoinPad, we will continue to improve our solutions with new functionalities and work on new projects in partnership with Samsung, Qualcomm, and LLVision.
Thank you for reading the State of the ARt newsletter in 2020. See you next year!
What’s your take on this month’s articles? Remember to sign up to our newsletter to receive the next issues directly in your inbox and share your thoughts in the comments!
About JoinPad
JoinPad is a leading global Augmented Reality company founded in 2010. With the HQ based in Italy, JoinPad has today business offices located in the USA, China, and Brazil. The company develops and distributes Augmented Reality solutions, including the related consultancy, aimed at simplifying the customer’s industrial business processes, providing innovative tools to interact with the environment.
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