What Can We Expect from Augmented Reality Developers This Year?
Posted January 4th, 2018
Throughout 2017, augmented reality (AR) caught the attention of businesses from across the globe. The technology has seen significant advances as of late, and a few major launches by leading tech companies have kept the level of momentum high, generating a significant amount of excitement in the industry.
As 2018 gets underway, many companies are wondering what the future will hold for AR. With that in mind, here is some guidance on what you can expect from augmented reality developers this year.
AR Experiences Growing Pains
Every emerging technology experiences notable growing pains at the tech becomes more commonplace, and AR is no exception to that role.
While the number of available tools is increasing at a rapid rate, and many developers are eager to get their hands on the technology, there is still a lot for many of them to learn. One of the potential hiccups actually involves how easy the technology can be integrated into many applications.
While this would seem like a benefit, the amount of excitement surrounding AR could lead some developers to want to add these features to apps that simply don’t require the functionality. The same can happen on the management side, with some members of leadership wishing to embrace the technology to the point of inserting it into systems that don’t benefit from its prevalence.
This means that IT managers need to be aware of how the fervor can impact decision-making, and they may need to intervene if either tech workers or company leaders try to force AR into applications that just don’t need it.
Toolkit Explorations
As tech giants like Amazon, Apple, and Google continue to push their AR platforms, developers are going to begin spending more time in exploration mode. Typically, the best way to assess which options may be best for specific business needs is to dive in, so don’t be surprised if developers start asking for management’s support to do just that.
Additionally, since AR is still relatively new, not all AR professionals will be adept with every toolkit, so companies need to be aware of what systems will be used for projects, particularly when hiring for AR positions. Simply looking for an AR professional to fill a vacancy may not be enough as this could lead you to hire an employee that doesn’t have the specific kind of experience you actually need.
Further, as AR platforms and toolkits become more robust, developers will need to adapt continually. Depending what a new release holds, this could incite a resurgence of excitement, particularly as the technology becomes more capable, but could also mean additional time is required on projects so that they can learn the platform before proceeding with critical tasks.
Ultimately, AR is a growing field, and that means there could be some challenges on the horizon. However, it also creates a higher level of interest in its potential as well as access to features that can help take your apps to the next level.
If you are looking for an AR professional to join your team, the knowledgeable staff at Bayside Solutions can help. Contact us today to see how our services can work for you.
