Differences in use cases highlight display technology capabilities
Attention is being paid not only to the potential applications for augmented reality (AR) in enterprise and for consumers, but also to what impact hardware components will have in the market. According to ABI Research, the AR hardware market is ripe for innovation and transformation especially in the diverging capability demands for displays coming from divergent consumer and enterprise requirements.
“The past few years have allowed augmented reality to take root in the enterprise with compelling and unique use cases, including remote expertise and hands-free instruction,” said Eric Abbruzzese, principal analyst at ABI Research. “As the market matures, there will be a need for greater capability in these AR devices, with displays powering much of the change. Given the growing consumer market interest, the similarities and differences between display types in AR will be increasingly important.”
At a basic level, AR is a digital overlay of content. To accomplish this in a head-worn form factor, transparent display technologies are best, but to achieve transparency while maintaining high resolution and brightness along with low cost and usable form factor can be a challenge, said ABI Research.
Companies like Kopin and Lumus are working to maintain a balance between these factors. Other players are looking to jump the transformative curve with new technologies, such as Avegant and Magic Leap with their light field product prototypes. Microdisplays combined with a transparent waveguide are most common today, with projection-based displays also in use.
According to ABI Research, there will be 32.7 million total smart glasses shipments in 2022, growing from 225,000 in 2017. During this timeframe, binocular (two display) devices will overtake monocular (single display) devices in marketshare. While monocular devices are predominant today thanks to their availability, cost, and acceptable performance, binocular devices will eventually win out as ASPs decline and device capability is fully realised. The consumer market will play a significant role in this shift as well.
“As the AR demand grows in enterprise and begins in the consumer market, the requirements for smart glasses shift,” continued Abbruzzese. “Generally, an increased desire for higher-performing devices will push the market toward better displays in every category, with some use cases targeting specific needs. Consumer fitness devices will require small form factors and high brightness suitable for outdoor usage. AR-media and entertainment growth with necessitate binocular, 3D capable devices with high resolution. Devices used in environments with high safety requirements will favour safety certified devices with highly transparent displays. Across the board, as knowledge and comfort with the potential of AR grow, so does the expectation for the devices. With that expectation, the requirements for devices grow too.”
These findings are from ABI Research’s Display Technologies in Augmented and Mixed Reality report.
