There are many different companies around the world taking advantage of AR and using to its fullest current capabilities. The Motley Fool recently released a report on the best stocks to watch that are using AR in their business practices. There’s no telling what’s actually going to happen to these stocks, but they’re more than worth keeping an eye on. Naturally, none of this is stock market advice. It’s simply a look at companies making AR a part of their business. Even if you don’t care about stocks, you can still learn about brand new AR technologies to check out.
Etsy
Etsy is a platform that lets people sell handmade crafts to anyone who wants them. This isn’t a typical marketplace because everything is made by hand and shipped directly by the sellers. They’re also AR to let shoppers view the pieces in their homes. All they have to do is point their camera where they want the piece to go and they’ll be able to see what it will look like. While this is best suited to wall art, they’re working to expand it into other categories for a fully AR experience on the app.
Alphabet
Alphabet is one of the biggest companies on the internet. They not only own YouTube, but also Google, which has dozens of its own holdings as well. Live View on Google Maps allows users to quickly orient themselves to the area around them and know which way to go via directions overlaid on the live screen of their surroundings. Meanwhile, Google Lens allows users to search what they see. They can scan and translate text, search for an item that caught their eye, or identify plants and animals. The company’s AR technology is making it easier for people to discover the world around them.
Apple
Apple is another giant on the internet that owns the biggest sites and apps around. These guys own many different platforms that are using AR on a steadily increasing basis. Some of the most popular are Snapchat, IKEA place, and iScape. They’re also exploring many ways to use virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality. For example, they’re developing wearable computing technology. It’s also constantly working on its Apple Glasses to varying degrees of success. There’s no telling if they’ll ever take off, but they’re certainly gaining more traction as time goes on.
Nintendo
Nintendo has been in the AR game for quite some time. In fact, they were one of the early adopters. Pokémon Go brought AR to the masses and it’s still being played to this day. They also allow their 3DS users to play AR games wherever they want. The newest AR game in their stable is Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit with more of them always on the way. They’ve partnered with Niantic to develop more titles that can bring them the same success they enjoyed with Go. It’s only a matter of time before they outpace AR apps.
Snap
Snap is the company that developed Snachat and most people don’t realize that. Most believe that Snapchat is its own company, but that’s not the case. Snap has used Snapchat to create lenses, which are AR animations that can change the sound of a person’s voice or their appearance as they move on a screen. More than 170 million people use this feature, so it’s not going to be disappearing any time soon. They’re also developing Spectacles which will be the “first pair of glasses that bring augmented reality to life.” Their technology is set to improve over time.
Nvidia
Nvidia is also working on the technology needed to make AR a reality. For example, Nvidia Cloud RX delivers VR and AR across 5G and Wi-Fi networks. It allows users to stream AR through devices without using wires. Nvidia is also developing technology that incorporates AR into cars. The Nvidia Drive AR processor gathers information and displays it for a driver using AR. The system will show things such as driving stats, points of interest, alerts, and other information. It’s the best chance at having AR streaming seamlessly to anyone who wants to use it for any purpose.
Embrace AR
AR is here to stay and it’s evolving right alongside VR. It can used on any hardware and enhance the entire world around you. It can be used for anything from gaming to learning and you can’t get any better than that. Keep an eye on these stocks if you want to see just how far it can go.