Rebecca Paredes December 20th, 2016
This is a contribution by Leo Suarez. Want to write for WearableZone? Check out our guidelines.
Augmented reality is the next great technological breakthrough. Pokémon Go, the hottest AR game, has been downloaded more than 100 million times with over 20 million active users, according to SurveyMonkey.
But what exactly is augmented reality, and how is it different from virtual reality? Virtual reality uses wearable headsets to transport a user into an interactive, 3D world for gaming and entertainment — or, in some cases, simulation training.
On the other hand, augmented reality enhances reality by supplementing the physical environment with computer-generated graphics and sounds, usually through a mobile device. According to a recent survey, the number of augmented reality users is expected to grow by 35% over the next five years. This same survey states that revenue earned from augmented reality will reach $100 billion by the year 2020 — that’s billion with a capital “B.”
Related: Gartner’s Brian Blau Predicts Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality Will Merge By 2020
Clearly, augmented reality and virtual reality will have significant impacts in our near future with big financial returns. But profit and entertainment aren’t the only purposes for this technology. They also help save lives in the medical field.
These four apps are paving the way for augmented reality and virtual reality in healthcare.
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