The next 10 years of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) technology development are set to redefine the future of both business and consumer processes and interactions in the region, a new research conducted by Frost & Sullivan in collaboration with GITEX Technology Week 2016 revealed. The event will be held on Oct. 16-20, 2016 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. GCC organizations are leveraging the new technology to enhance end-user experiences, the report states. From AR-enabled surgery to VR-powered education, experts from across industries will take the stage at GITEX Technology Week this year to share their innovative use cases of AR/VR technologies and provide a glimpse into the future of this game-changing technology. Augmented Reality - contextual information on mobile devices, projections, or wearables - and Virtual Reality which provides a fully-immersive digital environment, will be adopted across industries by 2025, the new report from Frost & Sullivan forecast. In response to the interest in AR and VR technology in the region, GITEX Technology Week 2016 will showcase the largest area in show history for AR and VR technologies with 560 square meters of the show committed to AR and VR exhibitors. Research reports corroborate predictions that the AR and VR market is booming, with IDC reporting that AR and VR hardware revenue is topping $2 billion globally for the first time this year. The firm further predicts that device shipments are set to grow 11-fold to 110 million by 2020. "AR and VR will be a giant step in transforming and democratizing education and businesses, especially in medicine, where immersive technology can facilitate education and access-at-a-distance for medical care," said Dr Rafael Grossmann, who will be headlining GITEX's Healthcare Monday – an industry vertical conference dedicated to healthcare technology. Dr Grossmann was the first person to stream a live surgical procedure with Google Glass. At GITEX, he will explain how UK-based healthcare company Medical Realities, led by colleague Dr Shafi Ahmed, live-streamed the first VR surgery from The Royal London Hospital, with 54,000 viewers virtually in the operating theatre. "From all around the world, they gained an exclusive point-of-view demonstration and interacted in real-time with the surgical event. Imagine how this level of interaction can deliver next-generation education for students worldwide, especially in developing countries," added Dr Grossmann. In the GCC, organizations no longer need to imagine the impact of AR and VR – they are already deploying the technology in fascinating new ways. Programs across industries in the GCC are eager to adopt AR and VR technologies to streamline processes and support the lives of employees, students and the general population. The new report from Frost & Sullivan highlights a number of unique AR and VR initiatives and projects in the region. Public agencies have been quick on the uptake of AR and VR technology in the GCC, Frost & Sullivan says, highlighting a number of cutting-edge initiatives in the region. Sheikh Zayed Housing Program, the agency that provides Emirati housing, has launched the My Virtual Home App, which uses AR to allow users to virtually tour readymade 3D housing models. The Dubai Road and Transport Authority (RTA) has launched Wojhati, a trip planning mobile app with GPS to help users plan, track, and share their mass transit routes. The RTA is also partnering with the Dubai Future Foundation for 25 per cent of Dubai's road trips by driverless vehicles by 2030.
