AR and VR Applications in Healthcare, Education, and eCommerce

Written by AmyraSheldon | Published 2019/03/27
Tech Story Tags: mobile-app-development | application-developer | hire-dedicated-programmer | augmented-reality | virtual-reality

TLDRvia the TL;DR App

AR and VR are the most trending technologies of the running era.

One of the biggest benefits in a VR and AR-enabled environment is the ability to innovate your products and services in a completely new way. Many industries and business sectors are taking advantage of these technologies such as — healthcare, education, e-commerce, manufacturing, etc.

Both virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) combined with AI and ML will create a better future and take your work to an entirely new level. How?

As an example, I recently founded eXp Realty a real estate company with a virtual office space built out on the VirBELA platform. With their centralized VR office space, they have around 14,000 agents across all 50 US states, 3 Canadian provinces, and 400 MLS market areas. And, all this without having a single traditional brick-and-mortar office.

As you can see, VR and AR seem likely to improve the state of business and your work culture.

So, what’s in there for your business?

Take a look at the benefits AR and VR bring to your business and how they can be used more successfully in the near future.

AR and VR in the Healthcare Industry

AR and VR have positively impacted the healthcare industry just like the internet of things (IoT), artificial intelligence, and machine learning.

Augmented reality, for example, can be used in the way of telemedicine that is the concept of receiving medical consultation from a doctor without being physically present in a hospital.

Telehealth is also a new way to monitor your patient’s health from a remote location with features like live video monitoring, geo-based pharmacy recommendations, simplified billing, and electronic health record integration.

There are several examples of AR and VR in the healthcare sector. The best one is AccuVein that shows a blood vessel map in real time that helps doctors avoid errors.

AR and VR will be also used to improve the way surgeries are performed today. There is a specific type of AR software — AR training simulators that let the doctors map all the motions needed for physical therapy straight to their patient’s body.

AI and ML-enabled technologies like robotics making a big difference in several areas of healthcare. Like, the IBM Watson Care Manager help enhance data management, improve drug discovery methods, and allow physicians to see data and other information in front of them without detaching themselves from the critical task at hand.

AR and VR in the Education Industry

AR and VR in the Education Industry

Virtual reality in the education space is predicted to be a $200 million industry by 2020 and 97% of students today would like to opt for a VR course.

According to reports, the education sector is at the 4th place for AR and VR investments. Around 80% of teachers prefer to have access to virtual reality devices, and only 6.87% use them in the e-learning process.

Augmented reality and virtual reality apps in the education sector make the process easy by adding an interactive audio-visual factor to your e-learning.

The platform such as Augment Education is the best to use for making presentations, modeling, and 3D design for constructing various e-learning materials using objects and animating them using various shapes and actions.

Another best example is SignAloud gloves that is the best e-learning tool for students with impairments. The tool allows students to communicate using sign language in a VR environment and translate into a human speech.

There are innovations like inMediaStudio group that has developed Aula Virtual Santillana for teachers and students. The tool allows them to access an incloud environment that they can use to create and send homework, view and read digital books etc.

All these platforms show a significant sign of transformation between how a class session was managed before and how it is done today.

AR and VR in the eCommerce Industry

AR and VR in the eCommerce Industry

For instance, Amazon recently integrated augmented reality-enabled shopping experience to their iOS app.

Similarly, eBay is planning to launch a virtual reality-enabled department store in collaboration with the Australian retailer, Myers.

The Swedish Multinational group IKEA using the AR catalog app that allows their consumers to virtually visualize how a certain piece of furniture will look in their home and how it will fit in their home.

The retail brands such as Converse and Lego are also started using augmented reality technology to show their products to different users.

Sephora is another best example of augmented reality in e-commerce that uses a virtual artist to create your full makeup looks on an outfit you are planning to wear.

With all these benefits that come with AR and VR, your customers will feel confident about their purchases as they’ve had an opportunity to try on a wide range of products. With augmented reality and virtual reality, buyers can now explore numerous choices and preferences before making a purchase. And, with AR-enabled platform buyers can also interact with the product they want to buy to better understand the product and explore its functionalities as well.

Final Words

Augmented reality and virtual reality are on the cusp of revolutionizing the way we shop, consult doctors, and interact with students, and other people. In order to achieve competitiveness and profitability in your business, you must implement AR and VR technologies into your business plans. Hence, the future of these technologies remains wide open and companies from different sectors including AR and VR apps in their business operations to improve their sales, service, and support.

Now, if you are looking to develop a mobile app with all the necessary features of AR and VR for your business . You can get help from the AR and VR app development companies to turn your app idea into reality.


Written by AmyraSheldon | I am a passionate tech writer. I write on latest technologies (Blockchain, AI, ML) for Valuecoders.
Published by HackerNoon on 2019/03/27