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Remember when the AR craze Pokémon Go took the world by storm? Augmented and Virtual Reality has been promising to achieve the same level of global obsession for years, but it's always fallen short. Despite lofty predictions and regular spots on the “latest tech trends to watch out for”, widespread adoption has been elusive. But will the recent launch of Apple’s mixed-reality headset, Vision Pro, rewrite the script?
Meta and others have thrown billions at VR, yet it's still waiting for its breakout moment. Will Apple's entry finally tip the scales, inspiring software developers and designers to create a new generation of apps and experiences? Could Apple's Vision Pro be the iPhone of virtual reality? We’ll explore practical uses of AR/VR, dive into emerging trends and the technology's future, and identify the tech skills essential for a successful career in this field.
While still a niche market, augmented and virtual reality technologies are rapidly expanding their reach across diverse industries. From healthcare advancements like surgical simulations and patient rehabilitation to retail innovations like virtual showrooms, AR and VR are opening up a growing number of career opportunities. And growing adoption in these fields suggests a promising future for these immersive technologies.
The opportunities for AR/VR are endless and while many industries, gaming, life science, healthcare and pharma are working through how this emerging technology can assist their businesses, mining companies are the early adopters embedding this tech to train workers on operating heavy machinery. Most of the world's global mining companies including BHP and Rio Tinto are moving towards autonomous vehicles which are operated via AR/VR.
Celest Wen – Associate partner, Page Executive
On the consumer side, as global shipments of AR/VR headsets plummet, the industry is shifting focus towards more accessible mixed and augmented reality experiences, seamlessly integrated into everyday devices like smartphones and tablets. This trend is particularly evident in the consumer tourism industry. Tourism businesses can now offer immersive and interactive experiences to a wider audience, transforming the way people explore and engage with destinations.
Tourists can use mobile phones, AR glasses, or other devices to experience historical scenes recreated in the scenic spot, with detailed virtual information about the location superimposed onto the real-world view.
Peggy Zhu – Partner, Manufacturing & Industrial, Page Executive
A recent example of this is Google Maps' AR Experience feature which offers new ways to explore places and find things to do. For instance, during the Paris Olympics, visitors could use AR to experience Parisian landmarks in new ways, including historically accurate AR reimaginings of 18th-century Paris.
Such innovative applications highlight the transformative power of AR/VR technology and its potential to reshape our personal and professional worlds. But can this technology truly go mainstream? We asked an expert to find out.
A clear trend in China today is that experts who worked on AR/VR products are shifting towards developing AI glasses. This transition indicates that we may embrace a new era defined by smart glasses, Theses devices will seamlessly integrate the capabilities of AI to unlock unprecedented interactive experiences.
Renee Huang – Associate manager, IT Technology team, Michael Page
We caught up with Matthias Moerstedt, Senior Business Development Consultant at adesso SE, to ask him about the trends shaping the future of AR/VR and its potential for mainstream adoption.
As a tech leader, what do you see as the most promising opportunities and emerging trends in AR/VR? How do you see AR/VR integrating with other emerging technologies?
AI is continuously improving in describing and interpreting real-world camera inputs. AR/VR devices, powered by this intelligence, will reconnect us with the real world while granting superhuman capabilities. Instead of passively staring at a mobile screen, we can actively engage with our surroundings, receiving instant information and guidance. This technology has broad applications, from aiding in everyday tasks to providing critical support in emergency situations, such as administering first aid.
What new applications for AR/VR are you currently investigating?
I’m exploring opportunities with our company’s client base and potential prospects to suggest innovative uses of AR/VR. This not only includes designing user interfaces for these new spatial technologies but also enhancing data visualisation to make it more intuitive and natural to work with. Clients with 3D data are an obvious starting point, but even applications like spreadsheets don’t have to be boring. We can make understanding and correlating numbers easier. Let’s redefine business processes from a 2D, screen-driven environment back to a more immersive 3D world.
What are the primary challenges hindering widespread AR/VR adoption, and how can these be overcome?
Widespread adoption doesn’t necessarily mean mass-market appeal right away. Starting in work environments, just as we’ve moved from bulky monitors to sleek flat screens that free up desk space, AR/VR devices need to become more comfortable for long-term wear. If we can achieve this, we could even eliminate the need for screens and desks altogether, using more natural gestures and voice commands for input. As these devices become more common in professional settings, they’ll likely attract a broader audience.
For now, they mainly appeal to media enthusiasts, but the potential for live events and 180° video experiences is enormous. Imagine not paying €500 for a Taylor Swift concert when you can stream it with a near-identical experience, complete with the option to have avatars of friends or other attendees around you. This immersive experience is a huge market, as evidenced by Apple’s fast growing immersive video library.
With its potential to revolutionise fields from entertainment to manufacturing, AR/VR offers a promising career choice for tech professionals looking to push the boundaries of the technology and redefine industries. But what tech skills do you need to thrive in the AR/VR industry?
Is a career in AR/VR right for you? We asked Michael Page experts worldwide about the most sought-after tech profiles. Here are the key skills and expertise in demand for AR/VR jobs:
Optical experts play a crucial role in developing and optimising display technologies, sensors, and optical systems to ensure the best immersive experience for users. Understanding micro-display technologies such as OLED, MicroLED, and LCOS, and experience in developing optical display systems is crucial.
Algorithm experts are also pivotal in driving the evolution of AR/VR technology, ensuring optimal performance, accuracy, and immersive user experiences. Key areas of expertise include: Computer Vision and Image Processing; 3D Reconstruction and Scene Understanding; and Audio Processing.
As AI large language models become increasingly sophisticated, the integration of these technologies into AR/VR products is rapidly expanding. That's why we believe that algorithm experts with LLM expertise will be in high demand.
It all starts with candidates with bachelor's degrees in computer sciences, games development or some form of graphic development. These are the essential qualifications as well as programming skills across C#, C++, Java, and Python. For non-development careers in AR/VR, designers and creatives are needed to conceptualise what the immersive worlds could look like, but you do need a basic understanding of computer programming languages, UX and UI.
To improve AR and VR experiences, we need to bridge the gap between the virtual and physical worlds. Advancements in areas like SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) technology will help to achieve more precise positioning, both indoors and outdoors. That’s why AR/VR candidates will need to master technologies like SLAM to create accurate and dynamic digital representations of real-world environments. Additionally, expertise in computer vision, machine learning, and AI is essential to enable AR/VR applications to intelligently interact with the surrounding world.
Will AR/VR ever hit the mainstream? Have you ever used this technology in your personal or work life? We love hearing from our tech-savvy community, so please drop your thoughts in the comments and join the conversation.
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