From work to shopping, many businesses and consumers are doing more things online and remotely these days. While that certainly comes with convenience benefits, it can also detract from the direct, in-depth experiences that can only come with in-person interactions.
But that may be changing. Augmented reality and virtual reality technologies have seen a resurgence in recent years, with major companies including Apple and Meta devoting significant resources to their development. Indeed, these technologies are already in use by businesses and consumers, and in both the near and long terms, their impact is likely to grow. Below, 15 members of Forbes Technology Council share some everyday business and consumer tasks that are—or soon may be—improved by AR and VR.
1. Accessing Remote Assistance
AR and VR have already started to make a major impact on consumers in many aspects of daily life. One near-term area is the ability to utilize AR or VR to receive remote assistance and troubleshooting support for anything from software packages to furniture assembly. This enhanced level of engagement will elevate the customer experience and boost brand loyalty and customer satisfaction. – Neil Lampton, TIAG
2. Planning And Building Construction Projects
The application of artificial intelligence and VR will soon become significant in construction work. These technologies can aid in examining sites and applying 3D plans and models to help architects and engineers visualize the construction steps and final results and ensure conditions are appropriate to carry out the plan as intended. VR technologies will help architects, engineers and workers on the site gain a deeper, unified insight and understanding. – Przemek Szleter, DAC.digital
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3. Trying On Clothing
Utilizing AR and VR, consumers may soon experience “virtual fitting rooms” where they can try on clothing in a virtual space before making a purchase. This not only enhances the customer experience by offering a personalized, immersive shopping journey, but also significantly reduces waste by minimizing returns and overproduction, thus promoting sustainability in the supply chain network. – Justin Goldston, Environmental Resources Management – ERM
4. Viewing Cyberthreats In The Supply Chain
After reviewing over 100 use cases of AR and VR, one task that I noticed benefited well in beta tests was cybersecurity professionals using VR to achieve three-dimensional visibility into cyberthreats in the supply chain. Instead of using the traditional dashboard approach, they used VR to implement a graphical “mapping” system with colors and shapes indicating levels of cyberthreats. Combined with AI, this application could be a game-changer. – Israel Martinez, Axon Global Services ©
5. Working Out
VR could be used to spice up workout sessions and motivate stay-at-home people to move their bodies. For example, apps such as Supernatural (on Meta Quest) allow users to instantly plunge into a beautiful virtual location and practice boxing or cardio moves while playing a game. VR makes coach-led meditations feel like they’re happening in real time, which can improve user engagement and retention. – Konstantin Klyagin, Redwerk
6. Presenting Lessons
Education is an area where VR might make a big difference. Whether teachers are showing ancient Rome in its full glory or allowing learners to experience the biomes where elephants live, a 3D environment will make many subjects more relatable for students. – Kevin Korte, Univention
7. Training Medical Professionals
One of the most exciting uses for AR and VR is in the healthcare industry. For example, haptics paired with VR simulators are being used to help train medical professionals by simulating how it feels to examine and operate on real patients. This enhanced training aims to improve patient experiences through more accurate diagnoses and empower clinicians with deeper experience in tackling challenging scenarios. – Jeff Wong, EY
8. Consulting With Healthcare Professionals
VR and AR have tremendous potential to transform the healthcare industry by enabling virtual health consultations. By leveraging VHCs, patients can effectively consult with their healthcare professionals from the comfort and safety of home, improving the overall healthcare experience. This approach saves valuable time and minimizes the risk of exposure to diseases and infections. – Cristian Randieri, Intellisystem Technologies
9. Engaging In Physical Therapy
An exciting area is the role AR and VR could play in physical therapy and rehabilitation. Patients can perform exercises in a simulated environment where they can get real-time feedback on their form and performance. This is invaluable for those who need to continue their therapy but cannot visit a physical clinic. This environment can adapt to the specific needs and progress of each individual. – Marc Fischer, Dogtown Media LLC
10. Providing One-To-One Customer Service
AR glasses will revolutionize remote customer support. When a customer encounters an issue, they can put on AR glasses and connect with support. The agent will see what the customer sees and can overlay real-time, step-by-step instructions directly onto the object in question. This makes remote support as effective as having an expert right beside you, significantly enhancing the customer experience. – Giri Chodavarapu, Omnicell
11. Cooking And Meal Prep
AR can be integrated into cooking and meal preparation. AR can overlay step-by-step cooking instructions, highlight ingredients and provide real-time measurements, making it easier for individuals to follow recipes accurately. This AR-enhanced cooking experience not only reduces cooking errors, but also enhances the overall culinary journey, leading to greater satisfaction and an improved kitchen CX. – Jagadish Gokavarapu, Wissen Infotech
12. Presenting Sales Pitches
One area I think will be massively impacted is sales. I think salespeople trying to move physical goods will have an easier time when they can share AR and VR models of the products, and I think consumers will be able to make better purchasing decisions after examining AR and VR models. Consumers may also enjoy the novelty of the experience, which boosts the CX. – Jordan Yallen, MetaTope
13. Creating Product Showrooms
VR allows businesses to offer a more personalized and interactive customer experience, fostering brand loyalty. While VR is less common for everyday tasks, its potential lies in virtual showrooms, where customers can explore products in a simulated environment. These technologies promise to enhance the customer journey, making it more informative and enjoyable. – Ranghan Venkatraman, Rezilyens LLC
14. Redecorating
Imagine this: You’re renovating your living room and, instead of guessing how a new couch or paint color would look, you pop on your AR glasses and see it in real time, right in your space. For consumers, it takes the guesswork out of decisions. From a CX standpoint, it creates confidence, reduces returns and deepens trust with brands. – Arun Kumar, Revature
15. Exploring Unfamiliar Areas
AR will be an integral part of the tourism industry. As you wander through a new city, you will be able to see, on your glasses, reviews of the best restaurants in the area or explanations of monuments—some of the most famous and significant sights might have videos that come up whenever you look at specific QR codes or parts of the building. – Nacho De Marco, BairesDev
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