Dany El Eid, TGP Digital's Business Director, shares some thought and best in class case studies on Augmented Reality, and why every industry sector should be taking a very serious look at this amazing communication technology.

Augmented Reality is the current evolving trend toward merging our digital lives into our daily lives. A study conducted by MarketandMarkets worldwide estimates that the total value of "Global Augmented Reality (AR) Market Forecast by Product (HMD, HUD, Tablet PC, Smartphone) for Gaming, Automotive, Medical, Advertisement, Defense, E-learning & GPS Applications (2011 - 2016)" will reach over $6 billion.

So, how does it work?

Augmented Reality uses various programming programming languages that essentially allows your standard webcam, or mobile phone camera to view and identify patterns and digital content in the real world. By instructing a software to identify certain patterns coming from the camera, your device is able to recognize and interact with the world around you.

Here's how it's being used:

• Advertising: Using AR to promote products and services by bringing video and animated to life off printed, physical media.

• Events: Used in presentations, AR can help avoid death-by-powerpoint and engage the audience in the narrative, by bring it io life.

• Task support: AR can help instruct human capital on assembly, maintenance and surgery, for example.

• Navigation: Pointing your device at your surroundings, an AR application can help guide you toward your destination in real time, and serve video and animated content on the selected destinations.

• Industrial: Can help setup complex assembly lines by simply placing targets on the floor to determine the most efficient layout.

• Military: AR enabled head mounted displays can help in military training.

• Architecture and Interior design: AR can help simulate architectural designs and interior fit out layouts.

• Tourism and sightseeing:  Tourists can get more information about historical buildings and rebuild some of the historical scenarios over a modern setting.

• Entertainment and education: AR has the potential to bring school books and education in general to life.

• Commerce: Online buyers can virtually try out their outfits and view hardware in full 3D HD, which boosts online purchasing decision.

• Translation: tools like Word Lens already allow you to translate in real time by simply pointing your device onto a sign.

Tags: digital, TGP, augmentedreality