Is Augmented Reality a Disruptive Technology? Exploring Its Potential Impact on Industries
Augmented reality (AR) is a technology that superimposes a computer-generated image on top of the real-world environment to enhance the user’s experience. AR has been around for several years, but it has gained prominence in recent years with the advent of new and improved hardware and software. AR has the potential to revolutionize various industries, from healthcare to gaming. In this article, we’ll explore whether AR is a disruptive technology and its potential impact on industries.
What is Disruptive Technology?
The term “disruptive technology” was first coined by Clayton Christensen in his book, “The Innovator’s Dilemma.” A disruptive technology is a new technology that disrupts an existing market by displacing an earlier technology. The new technology may offer lower cost, better performance, or new features that appeal to a niche market. Over time, the disruptive technology improves its performance and features, eventually capturing the whole market.
AR: Disruptive or Sustaining Technology?
AR has the potential to be a disruptive technology in various industries. AR can enhance the user experience by providing information that modifies the user’s perception of the real world. For example, AR can be used in education to provide a more immersive learning experience. Additionally, AR can transform the way people shop by allowing customers to try on clothes or visualize furniture in their homes.
On the other hand, AR can also be a sustaining technology that improves an existing product or service. For example, AR can be used in manufacturing to provide workers with real-time information about the status of a machine. This information can improve efficiency and reduce downtime.
Potential Impact of AR on Industries
AR has the potential to impact various industries in different ways. Here are a few examples:
Healthcare:
AR can be used in healthcare to enhance the patient’s experience. For example, AR can be used in surgery to provide doctors with real-time information about the patient’s vitals. Additionally, AR can be used to educate medical students by providing a more immersive learning experience.
Retail:
AR can transform the way people shop by allowing customers to try on clothes or visualize furniture in their homes. AR can also be used to provide customers with real-time information about a product.
Gaming:
AR gaming has gained popularity in recent years with the success of games like Pokemon Go. AR can enhance the gaming experience by providing a more immersive experience.
Conclusion
AR has the potential to be a disruptive technology in various industries. AR can be used to enhance the user experience, improve efficiency, and transform the way people shop. However, AR can also be a sustaining technology that improves an existing product or service. As AR technology evolves, we can expect to see more use cases that have the potential to disrupt various industries.
