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The worlds of virtual and augmented reality, known as VR and AR, are pushing ahead as new devices are produced in a bid to attract more consumers and make the technologies main stream after years of niche appeal … but will there be room in the hearts and minds of consumers for both?
Virtual reality offers a digital recreation of a real life setting, while augmented reality delivers virtual elements as an overlay to the real world. Both technologies enable experiences that are becoming more commonly expected and sought after for entertainment purposes
Additionally, they also have great potential in changing the landscape of the medical field by making things such as remote surgeries a real possibility. These technologies been already been used to treat and heal psychological conditions such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
And both featured prominently at the CES electronics show in Las Vegas. The world’s largest annual consumer technology trade show, which ended on Sunday, featured 3,800 exhibitors showing off their latest products and services to more than 165,000 attendees
Google has been trying to position the vast network of smartphones running its Android operating system for virtual andaugmented reality.
Chinese manufacturer Huawei Technologies announced that two of its phones will soon work with Daydream View, a VRheadset released last year by Google.
Meanwhile, Taiwanese manufacturer Asus Tek Computer announced that its ZenFone AR will support both Daydream and Google’sTango software for AR, in which computer-generated content is overlaid on the real world.
While the announcements expand the line-up of participating phones, Google still has much to do to take its technology to the masses, said analyst Jan Dawson of Jackdaw Research, noting that Samsung Electronics, the largest Android manufacturer, has yet to sign on, although itsVR 4D Skeleton Experience proved a big hit at the show.
“Google’s ecosystem for both AR and VR isin the very early days,” he said.
As growth in the global smartphone market shows signs of slowing, some manufacturers are voicing optimism that they will revive consumer enthusiasm.
“This is the next wave of technology that is really going to get consumers excited about smartphones,” Erik Hermanson, Asus’s head of marketing for mobile products, said at the show.
But mainstream consumer interest in the technology remains largely unproven. Apps might be expected to stimulate demand, but until Google’s technology is available on a wider range of phones, it will be tough to persuade developers to build for the platform, analysts suggest.
“We are waiting for app developers to really use the platform for what it’s for,” Amit Singh, a vice president for VRat Google, told reporters.
In addition to supporting Daydream, Huawei said that it is exploring opportunities for Tango with Google. The Asus phone became the first to support both technologies.
Google has stressed that the programmes donot overlap for now, but by pursuing both, the company can position itself for success regardless of whether AR or VR becomes a mainstream hit.
