Will 2020 be marked by augmented reality?

Apple has had a fairly stable product portfolio in recent years, and we haven't seen any big hits in a long time. In this regard, many have their eyes on augmented reality, which Apple should have big plans for. Various AR glasses have been talked about for a long time, but we still don't know anything concrete. Tim Cook called augmented reality the "next big thing" this week, fueling the speculation once again.

During his last visit to Ireland, Tim Cook let it be known that he is a big fan of augmented reality, and that according to him, it is another big milestone that will greatly affect our lives. Analysts, who have already commented on this topic countless times, also express themselves in the same spirit. According to many, the advent of augmented reality will be a huge leap forward, especially with regard to how we manipulate and use smart technology such as phones or tablets, or how we react to objects and environments around us, as well as how we perceive interpersonal communication.

According to many, we are not yet at such a technological level to see augmented reality in the short term. However, the arrival of this technology will be gradual and we could register the first steps already this year.

For example, there has been talk for several months that the upcoming iPhones and iPads will receive a new set of sensors (so-called time-of-flight), thanks to which iPhones, iPads and other accompanying devices/applications will be able to perceive the environment around them, including dimensionally -spatial point of view. This is a key functionality for augmented reality, as it will enable devices to better navigate and interact with their surroundings.

Apple has been offering the software basis for augmented reality for some time, in the form of the developer ARKit for iPhones and iPads. In its current form, ARKit allows developers to work with a flat space that the user views through the camera's viewfinder. In this way, for example, it is possible to place various objects on a table, etc. However, for real augmented reality working in three-dimensional space, more hardware is needed (for example, the already mentioned ToF sensor), but also more robust software as a platform for developers. The foundations for this should be laid already this year, and it is very likely that the upcoming iPhones and iPads will receive some news related to augmented reality. Once that happens, developers can get down to work and start gradually building a strong and robust platform that will be here for a while and will be the basis for AR applications in the future.

However, iPhones and iPads will not be the pinnacle of AR technology. This should eventually become the glasses that connect the real world with the virtual one. In this regard, there are still many question marks, especially from a technological point of view. There have been some attempts at AR glasses before, but nothing long-term. However, if Apple has shown anything in recent years, it is persistence with regard to vision (iPad). If the company is just as dogged in its quest to build a new platform for augmented reality, we could be in for a surprise in a few years.