An article appeared on TechTarget addressing the ‘experimental’ nature of Augmented Reality in the Enterprise. The article’s line of thought follows the extent to which Augmented Reality is being adopted in the enterprise, as businesses must work out its best uses, cost versus ROI and user acceptance.

Both Christine Perey, AREA Board member and former Executive Director, and The AREA’s current Executive Director Mark Sage, are quoted in this article.

Issues mentioned in the article include confusion around the difference between AR & VR, which is addressed and the fact that mobile apps are only 1 way to deliver Augmented Reality (others being wearables, smartglasses, head mounted displays and other hands free devices).

The state of the AR Market is touched upon including the industry early adopters. Popular uses are summarised, such as inspections, design reviews and in highly complex environments. The article offers a high level overview for industry decision makers looking for a greater understanding of how Augmented Reality can help in their enterprise.

The AREA also offers a huge range of resources for enterprise users and membership. Do take a look around our website for more information or get in touch!

The French defence and electronics group Safran announced on 19 September that it had acquired a stake in AREA Member Diota. Diota, also a France-based company, specializes in the development of Augmented Reality software for industrial applications.
A link to Diota’s own press release (which is written in French) can be read here. 
The company develops and provides Augmented Reality software solutions for aircraft, automotive, oil & gas, utilities and other heavy industries. The company’s solutions are based on a strong R&D foundation designed to address major technological barriers in the field of Augmented Reality. Diota, established in 2009, has focused on implementing AR-based tools which can be used to improve production processes in a variety of heavy industries, including defence.
Other partners include Dassault Aviation and DCNS Group. Diota also partners with the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (Commissariat à l’énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives: CEA). Other industry types in which Diota has an established presence include energy, rail, automotive and the chemical industries. More information about Diota can be read on their AREA member profile here.

A recent article on yahoo.com states how technology giant Razer has launched Zventures, a $20 million investment fund in order to help small startups, including those in Augmented Reality. CEO of Razer, Min-Liang Tan has told Digital Trends that investments will range from $100,000 to $1 million, in a number of areas of technology, amongst those AR.
This is now officially open for any company to pitch.
As a company, Razer has a number of attributes that will benefit those in which it will invest:
• Razer has one of the largest active user bases in the world, targeted more specifically at the ever growing gaming community; they may introduce this audience to the startups they work with
• The company has experience as both a hardware and software company, with the possibility of bringing such knowledge to the startups in which it will be investing. Not only this, they will also be bringing the relationships they have with such hardware manufacturers, and the knowledge of the life cycle of products at retail
• Razer has its own stores, and has partnered with retailers such as Best Buy in the US, and Media Markt in Europe. CEO Tan says that Razer can use its global distribution network, bringing those to the startups they plan on helping
Tan speaks about his excitement for the future of AR, saying how he thinks it will be “large and overlapping industries”. Being equally enthusiastic about investing in VR, CEO Tan says, “we will invest in both areas”.

At the AREA we continually sift through industry publications and blogs on the topic of enterprise Augmented Reality. Some news contains product developments as well as historical and background information about AR. Recently, many have focused on Pokémon Go; here is a roundup of articles we thought may interest our readers:

1. On the Metavision blog, an interactive history timeline of AR development is shared.
2. “Enterprise to Drive Augmented Reality Growth,” by Channel News Australia.
3. Prepare for the AR Workplace: The Tech behind Pokemon Go Will Be in Offices Sooner Than You Think.
4. AREA member DAQRI gets a mention in this article about their smart helmet for industrial use.
5. The following article explores how Apple will use technology in the future to secure its long-term growth. Augmented Reality gets a significant mention in its potential to increase iPhone sales. In addition, wearable technology such as smart glasses, which will shape the AR space, will drive further potential for Apple in the future.