Interactive technology may be moving into practical applications
Augmented reality has become popular for its dynamic nature and penchant for novelty mobile applications. Even in the realm of marketing, augmented reality is often relegated to gimmickry in an attempt to provide consumers with quick entertainment. The practical applications of augmented reality are gaining more attention, however, especially amongst military and security organizations. A new report from Mind Commerce, a research organization, shows that augmented reality is, indeed, becoming a popular topic within the U.S. military.
Report suggests that augmented reality could revolutionize military conflicts
According to the report, titled Augmented Reality in the Battlefield 2012-2016, augmented reality has the potential to change military combat completely. The report suggests that the use of augmented reality on a battlefield could eliminate what home ground advantage an opposing force could have by providing soldiers with detailed GPS information and highlighting dangers in the environment for them. Mind Commerce expects that the potential uses of augmented reality could make the U.S. military one of the largest supporters of the technology in the world.
Military augmented reality market could reach $8.2 billion by 2016
The report predicts that the military augmented reality market will grow by 25% annually over the next four years. The market itself will be worth more than $8.2 billion by the end of 2016, if this growth trend continues. The U.S. is expected to lead the use of augmented reality in military operations for several years, though Asian Pacific countries may also adopt the technology in the near future for their own militaries.
Augmented reality could bring benefits to various industries
The report makes note of several augmented reality developers that are beginning to play a big role in the military market. Beyond the military, the report notes that several other organizations, such as NASA, could benefit from the use of augmented reality. Overall, it is suggested that the technology can be used to easily accomplish goals that have, for years, been considered difficult.
