Use cases for AR devices across all industries set to accelerate as designers are freed from the limitations of batteries and wires and adopt wireless power over air.
Augmented reality (AR) experiences have been in development and in play for some time now. From an operational standpoint, they can come in the form of glasses, headsets, helmets, a wrap-around screen, a mirror, and even augmented reality contact lenses, which have recently been demonstrated as viable. But they still remain in the fringes. Why?
The purpose of augmented reality has far surpassed entertainment value. It can be used to help visualize proposed designs in the real world, assist with shopping, help surgeons prepare for complicated surgeries, provide physical fitness guidance, and quickly train workers on a variety of tasks that can close the skills gap in many industries.
The Primary Challenge Holding Back AR Growth: Power
The challenge for growth and global adoption has not been the technology, quality of resolution, execution, or even lack of implementation ideas. It has been power.
A wired system has all the power it needs, but it’s tethered to a plug, which limits its flexibility and usefulness. A wireless system that has batteries that need charging is limited by the size of the battery and how long it will last without getting plugged in to recharge. The smaller the device — consider those contact lenses that use medical grade itsy-bitsy batteries — the less power and/or usage time you have.
Real Wireless Power Will Enable AR Growth, Use Cases, and Adoption
Cota Real Wireless Power, especially Cota 5.8 GHz, is poised to solve this power problem. It can be used safely and continuously without user intervention in a Cota-enabled space for as long as needed. Wirelessly powered AR devices do not require wires, batteries, or charging, and are charged up and ready for use all the time.
Industry Examples of Wirelessly Powered AR Benefits
Factories and Warehouses
When augmented reality becomes the de facto standard for factory-floor training — as one example — onboarding times, manufacturing errors, and accidents will decrease exponentially. “Augmented reality glasses will reduce downtime, narrow the skills gap and amplify agility on your plant floor."
Designers and Engineers
Architects, designers, and engineers will be able to not only virtually experience their products in the real world, but they will also be able to offer convincing pre-proofs of concepts to decision makers, which can expedite budgets and prioritize AR development time.
Healthcare and Fitness
Medical staff will not only become more efficient in their environments but will also have information and guidance more quickly that can help improve recovery and save lives.
Patients recovering from injuries as well as athletes, seniors, and others will have virtual physical therapists and trainers at the ready to encourage, motivate, and help modify behaviors and movements. Improved physical performance and quality of life are measurable results that many organizations strive for.
Making the First Move to Integrate Wireless Power into Augmented Reality Devices
What will it take to integrate Cota Real Wireless Power into these augmented reality systems? The fact is, not much. The technology exists. It has been demonstrated in real-world settings. Cota 2.4GHz has been regulatory approved across more than 60 countries worldwide.
AR Development Is Hot
More and more companies are racing to be “first” in making augmented reality as useful and valuable as possible. In addition to Mojo Vision showing off their augmented reality contact lenses with a human subject wearing them, Apple is rumored to be coming out with a VR headset. AppleInsider has made it possible for people to visualize this headset on their own desk using an iPad or iPhone. (Using AR to visualize a possible AR device … we love this!)
And just a few days ago, “Google revealed that it will begin testing camera-equipped augmented reality glasses in public … [and] it won’t be long before Apple, Microsoft, and others throw their long-awaited glasses into the ring as well.” Enovis just launched an AR device for orthopedic surgery. Also, FaceCake, which offers an AI/AR shopping platform has just partnered with financial platform Company.com to expand the availability of “self-serve” AR-enabled commerce.
If these examples are not enough to convince you that augmented reality will soon be an everyday experience — and desperately in need of convenient, sustainable power to continue to evolve in pace with user demand — Markets and Markets predicts “the global Augmented Reality Market size is expected to grow from USD 22.5 billion in 2021 to USD 88.4 billion by 2026, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 31.5% from 2021 to 2026.”
Which industries will embrace AR and wireless power integration first?
Healthcare, retail, and automotive industries just might lead the way with widespread AR adoption. Corporations are always looking to expedite training to get unskilled or new workers up to speed faster and get to market faster and with fewer errors, especially when the stakes are high, as they are in those three industries.
Well-informed and equipped employees are more confident and feel more effective, which can also decrease attrition, especially for more repetitive jobs. And with healthcare, when AR begins to show proof of saving lives, the demand will be loud.
Augmented reality plus Real Wireless Power takes the onus off the worker to make sure the device is charged and ready to go at a moment’s notice. Wireless power over air and at a distance will make AR devices lighter, more flexible and portable, more reliable, and more convenient to use.
With all benefits combined and added up over time, the ROI from wirelessly powered AR will be tremendous.
Are you working on an AR device that could benefit from Cota Real Wireless Power? Are you partnering with an AR development company that would have a broader range of applications with wireless power technology integration? We’d love to hear from you.
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4https://appleinsider.com/inside/apple-vr
6https://www.theverge.com/2022/7/19/23270219/google-ar-prototypes-test-public
7https://www.theverge.com/2022/7/25/23054367/google-ar-glasses-glassholes-coming-back
8https://www.medicaldevice-network.com/comment/enovis-ar-orthopaedic-surgery/
