Mobile gaming has come a very long way since the introduction of crude & simple games like Snake and Pong which were available on early Nokia phones. Mobile processors and graphics are now as powerful as desktop computers were just a few years ago. Older generations still remember lugging around a Game Boy or Game gear and begging their parents for another game. New generations literally have access to 100’s of thousands of games on their mobile device.

In short, mobile gaming has exploded in just a few years time. In the month of July 2016 there were 63.1 million arcade games downloaded & games in the “strategy” category generated $195M revenue. In a recent study over 37% of mobile app users with 30 minutes of free time choose to play games over any other activity. We’ve all seen it and we’ve all done it ourselves, whether its waiting for an appointment or sitting at the airport, we pull out our mobile device and jump into a quick game to kill the time.

So what does all of this mean for the future of android gaming? For starters, the massive amounts of revenue and user interest in android gaming has bolstered continuous innovation and fierce competition in the global marketplace. For example, just 12 months ago, top executives were saying they didn’t see any major benefit to augmented reality. With the release of Pokemon Go and estimates citing as much as $500 million in revenue in just 60 days, I think we can all agree augmented reality is here to stay.

Virtual reality is another area that has been picking up steam in recent months. You can now buy virtual reality headsets at local gas stations for a mere $30. Or if you’re on a budget you can purchase Google Cardboard for as little as $7.00. There are still only a limited number of VR enabled games but that number is increasing daily. Not only that, as more and more people experience VR we are sure to see a blockbuster release sooner or later.

Let’s take a look at some real life examples of recent game releases. Dawn of Titans which was recently released on Google Play was in development for over 2 years. This is akin to the development cycle of a mid-level PC game release on Steam. The game features mass controlled troops, world building elements and impressive graphics. A few years ago this would be considered a major release for the Android platform. These days this is just another drop in the massive pond. With over 2.4 million apps and games currently listed on Google Play it’s become harder and harder to stand out. This is actually good news for gamers as developers are working harder and faster to create new innovative titles to attract users.

I firmly believe that both Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) titles are going to gain more traction in 2017. Major developers who can pump out triple A content can’t be left in the dust while indie developers pump out AR and VR enabled games. They will be forced to port existing titles and come up exciting new ways to interact with the mobile devices.

There are many gimmicky games available that utilize the phones microphone, gyroscope, camera and accelerometer. However, these sensors combined with AR and VR could bring a whole new experience to gamers. Imagine walking through a recreated 3D world that represents your neighbourhood, immersed in full virtual reality, and using your phone as a targeting device to defend against waves of zombies. This is already possible with the technology that is available, it just needs to be packaged in a user friendly way that people can enjoy.

Combining meticulous graphics with well thought out virtual reality experiences would be impressive indeed. If you’re familiar with PC based virtual reality demo’s you already know how immersive the experience can be. It’s only a matter of time before these same experiences make their way to our mobile devices en masse. And to think, only 30 years ago we were playing Mario on our beloved Nintendo consoles. Let’s not even mention the Virtual Boy that burned your eyes after 2 minutes of playing tennis. Android games and mobile games in general have come a long ways since then and they will continue to push barriers even further in the near future.

Augmented Reality uses the existing environment and overlays additional information on top of that.

If you are still unclear about what AR is, then all you have to do is go back and remember the time Pokémon Go took over the internet by storm. The game revolves around players catching digital monsters. Similarly, apps such as Snapchat, Facebook and Instagram offer users with filters which overlay animated images onto users’ faces.

You will now be wondering how this technology can reshape or transform our future. Augmented Reality could bring about a lot of changes and development to various industries. Let’s find out what they are.

Real Estate

We all dream of living in the perfectly designed house that boasts of our style and statement. With the augmented reality, that dream might just come true. AR uses interactive computer-generated images, which allows the buyers to envision the finished property while it is still under construction. The benefit of this technology in the real estate industry is that it can transform all 2D models such as blueprints and photos into 3D models for buyers to easily interact with.

Builders and real estate agents will find it convenient to display the properties with such an immersive experience. And not just that, interested buyers can also modify the colour, furniture, room sizes and more based on what they would want the completed design to look like. Envisioning your completed property with AR even before it is built is an advantageous marketing tool for selling a property.

Shopping

Online shopping is slowly taking over the traditional way of shopping. However, it is uncertainty that stops buyers from buying things online. AR making its way in the shopping industry could most definitely move potential buyers towards online shopping. With the growth of augmented reality at the store, customers can view products in a highly realistic manner in their preferred environment.

It will also become easier for marketers to share product catalogues with up-to-date information. Additionally, shopping experiences can be enhanced with AR glasses being available at every retail store or supermarket. These glasses will display all the pricing, design, and product specs to the buyers while shopping. Augmented Reality could definitely change the way people shop.

Travel

The travel industry is another sector that augmented reality could revolutionize. Although virtual reality has a bigger role to play in the travel industry, augmented reality could still be seen as huge change. AR-based applications on smartphones will help tourists and travellers check and find local tourists attractions nearby and translate boards and signs instantly into their native language.

Moreover, exploring and visiting local attractions, theme parks and zoos with augmented reality will help travellers have the most extraordinary trip. The technology will display 3D models of landmarks and take travellers back in time showing them the evolution brought with time. AR for the travel industry is not just about the fun factor, but also adds an educational element for the travellers.

Healthcare

While people are getting used to being transported into the world of 3D that does not really exist with Virtual Reality headsets, AR is already being used in the pharma and healthcare industry, to save lots of lives. However, that is not all. Augmented reality can be of major assistance to healthcare organizations in helping them perfect their existing processes. AR will provide surgeons with an in-depth knowledge of the risks involved with minimally invasive surgeries and help them perform effectively.

Surgeries earlier required different types of monitors which would display the patient’s vital statistics through an endoscopic camera. Leaving all these hassles behind, doctors can wear AR smart glasses which will display all the pertinent information while they are performing the surgery and helping them stay focused on the task at hand.

Education

Augmented reality in the educational sector could be a huge game-changer towards how children learn. The technology will provide students with immersive content that will help them understand the concepts. With the help of engaging 3D models, students can grasp complex information in an easier manner providing them with a wider understanding of topics.

In our dynamic day and age, museums and historical sites have incorporated AR features to their exhibits to stay at par with technology. This is a great way for people to explore and gain additional informative knowledge. AR is all about exploration, which eventually leads students towards learning and understanding. This is a win-win for both technology and the educational industry.

Conclusion:

There is no doubt that Augmented Reality will reshape more than just these five industries. As devices adapt to the new technology, the growth of Augmented Reality is exponentially huge. With so many positive advantages, AR could fundamentally change what it is to be human

Earlier described in fiction stories or films, the augmented reality in business has come true with the technology which is now used in routine lives. This change took place a few years ago, and it is expected to boom over the digital world with even more significant impact. The augmented reality combines the data from an actual or realistic world to another that is created using digital tools and technology. So, it becomes feasible for the user to watch the reality surfaced with the computer-generated scenario. AR companies help to develop the user experience from a visual point of view. Augmented reality is transforming the concept in the commercial domains as it contains immense prospects for your business. There are different types of benefits of using augmented reality for enterprises. They are as follows:

> Entertainment industry- Augmented reality services have displayed their miracles in the gaming and entertainment sectors. Professional gaming developers and coders have developed efficient software to create excellent games which have mesmerized the world. The games created using augmented reality have achieved massive success regarding their popularity and sales. They are more realistic and having graphics with a more luxurious look and feel. The level of involvement of the users in such games is naturally higher. AR games and apps are now compatible with the Android, and IOS versions since smartphone users have increased up to a large extent.

> Education- Top augmented reality companies have transformed the concepts in teaching and training as well. The innovative intelligence and efficiency they have provided in the learning domain are exceptional as the technology is bringing the real-life scenarios with logical reasoning. The technology has proven its ability to offer physical and psychological experience to the user. Hence, the learning has become more realistic and exciting. The virtual experience a user may get through this technology makes him study the real-life situations in depth. For instance, a trainee pilot can make use of flight training devices in which he sits in a virtual cockpit and takes off or lands the plane through mechanical equipment which is entirely virtual but includes the realistic controls. At many instances, classroom training fails to explain the matter in detail where virtual reality can help a lot.

> Medical- When it comes to medical or healthcare field, the doctor who is treating you or the surgeon who is operating you has to be flawless. AR providers are significantly contributing to these fields where trainee surgeons can learn their first surgery online using AR technology. Also, patients with particular kind of phobia such as height, depth, stage, water, crowd, etc. can be put safely into virtual ambiance while treating them. The treatment methods and other implications in the medical field can be simplified using augmented reality.

> Real Estate- The augmented reality in construction or real estate business has helped to save the time and efforts of the customers. Instead of physically visiting the site or a ready-possession home, the customer can see the entire house from a remote location using AR technology. If the video is comprised of 360- degree view, nothing is better than that! From 3D visuals to animated videos, augmented reality offers highly realistic experiences to the users watching it. Hence, virtually the customer can enjoy the visit to the apartment villa or a bungalow he is planning to purchase. Builders and construction developers are mainly using this technology to capture the attention of the potential buyers.

> Travel & hospitality- All smartphone apps have GPS enabled on them; however augmented reality has gone a step ahead. Many travel apps show the tourist routes and other related information like on the way restaurants, hotels, medical assistance, petrol pumps, etc. Travel business agencies or corporate have started using this technology to offer a tourist enthusiast a virtual experience of visiting the destination even before opting for any holiday package. Many lavish hotel properties are using this technology to showcase the hotel ambiance, amenities to the guests before they book a room or suite. AR is such an excellent way of offering real-life experience to the tourists and travelers who often search for better prospects.

> Automobiles- Car or bike designers belonging to automotive manufacturing companies make use of virtual reality combined with augmented reality before preparing the robust framework. The designers can walk around the model or sit on it to take a look and feel of how it would function. Similarly, the user can also make the experience of the proposed model of a car or a bike before deciding to buy it. Simplifying the specifications, features, and benefits of a particular vehicle is just possible because of this technology. Automobile engineers, vehicle showroom dealers can leverage this technology to boost their business.

To summarize, augmented reality, as well as virtual reality, are playing crucial roles in transforming the business concepts. With rapidly increasing smartphone and tablet users; the technology is going to revolutionize in a significant way. Superfast bandwidth, robust apps, and superior software are indeed going to create wonders in the multiple types of augmented reality solutions. The objective of the virtual reality companies is to drawing customers’ attention and retaining their engagement with this mesmerizing technology which can be eventually used to create exciting marketing campaigns.