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Friday, July 14, 2017

Augmented reality technology, abbreviated as AR, is a technological advancement that utilizes a computerized sensor feedback like sound, images, or GPS data to enhance or even transform a person’s view of the real world. Futurists say that this innovation is likely to impact the insurance, sports, banking, health and manufacturing industries in many ways.

Just like many other innovations that preceded it, augmented reality (AR) is an uncertain technology that will either create opportunities or introduce new risks in the commercial insurance industry. For instance, some pessimists argue that the rise of the AR technology would lead to privacy violation, virtual harassment, and policy changes to match the new opportunities presented by the disruptive technology.

On the other hand, some positive people say that this emerging technology is likely to enhance communication between insurance companies and clients alongside opening more coverage opportunities like cyber insurance and personal accident liability. Below is a detailed frame of mind to help you understand the risks and opportunities of this disruptive technology.

What are the possible risks associated with AR Technology?

Chief business experts say that the adoption of AR technology will result in a loss of $20 billion by the year 2020. The experts support this argument on the basis that there will be an increase in accidents like falls and tripping when playing AR games. For instance, some people were reported to fall off 50 feet and 80 feet cliffs while playing Pokemon, an AR related game. In another case, one man was said to hit himself against a tree while playing the AR game.

Besides the increased risk of personal injury, AR technology also poses a significant health and behavioral risk to users. For instance, health experts have associated the use of this disruptive technology to cause adverse health effects like nausea and dizziness. As such, businesses will be forced to look for solutions to mitigate work absenteeism related to the use of AR technology.

Pessimistic futurists argue that AR technology, more especially the AR games are likely to place a user’s information security at risk. This is because the AR game involves capturing photos and videos using gadgets that have a Geolocation that can be tracked. On the other hand, the information you share on AR can leak to third parties who can use it for impersonation or other cyber crimes. Such security risks are likely to cost companies billions of dollars.

AR Opportunities in the Insurance Industry

Regardless of the fact that AR Technology comes along with risks that can lead to the loss of billions, this emerging technology has its good sides in the insurance industry. For instance, some insurance companies may use AR as a tool to assess the risk of insuring a building or any other asset.

Furthermore, the insurance provider can take advantage of the various risks posed by the emerging technology to provide coverage solutions that can cover some of the associated personal and corporate losses.

Another possible opportunity presented by AR Technology is that auto insurance companies can use the disruptive AR technology to uncover the cause and nature of car accidents with a view of reducing auto insurance claims. Similarly, auto insurance companies can use AR to gauge a driver’s driving skills before insuring them.

In addition to the use of AR technology to reveal the cause and nature of car accidents, insurers can use AR technology to present their customers with an opportunity to use the AR technology to get business insurance quotes when shopping around for an insurance deal.

How Can Insurance Companies Get Prepared For The Disruptive Technology?

Evidently, AR is a disruptive technology that can open a way for new opportunities. For instance, any insurance company that aims to gain from this emerging technology should come up with ways to utilize the technology in assessing risks. Insurance firms could also come up with new insurance solutions to cover businesses and individuals from the losses associated with AR technology.

By Lindsey Patterson	Embed
Author Bio - Lindsey is a freelance writer specializing in business and consumer technology.

Sunday, March 20, 2016

Augmented Reality

Along with other new and soon-to-be-available devices, the Meta 2, an augmented reality headset makes it possible for users to see, grab and move holograms just like physical objects, CEO Meron Gribetz hopes to extend our senses through a more natural machine interaction.

Will we still be using external monitors for the majority of our computer applications in a few years? Augmented reality technology holds the potential to bring us more immersive and direct user experience through the use of head-mounted display systems. So far Google Glass didn't immediately catch on, and technical issues held back wide release, and Microsoft's HoloLens is still gearing up development.

"If you're anything like me, your mind is already reeling with the possibilities of what we can do with this kind of technology."

Google's Magic Leap has been teasing us for a while now too, with demonstrations of video game applications in real world environments, and models of the solar system that seemingly float above our desks.

Now, the with a demonstration at TED, the Meta 2, an augmented reality headset makes it possible for users to see, grab and move holograms just like physical objects, Meta's CEO and founder Meron Gribetz hopes to extend our senses through more natural machine interaction.

Gribetz takes the TED stage to demonstrate the reality-shifting Meta 2 for the first time. (The video is embedded below). "Now if you're anything like me, your mind is already reeling with the possibilities of what we can do with this kind of technology," he says. The company was originally funded through a Kickstarter campaign.

Meta 2’s optics technologies include a full 90-degree field of view and 2560 x 1440 high-dpi display. The Meta 2 see-through headset makes everything below your eyebrows completely transparent and unobstructed so you can easily make eye contact with others. You can also wear the headset while wearing glasses

"What you're seeing is called augmented reality, but to me, it's part of a much more important story -- a story of how we can begin to extend our bodies with digital devices, instead of the other way around," says Gribetz.

According to Gribetz, devices like the Meta 2 may actually lead to new forms of social interaction. "It's not enough to experience things ourselves. We're inherently these social primates. And this leads me to our third guideline, the holographic campfire from our first story."

"Our mirror-neuron subsystem suggests that we can connect with each other and with our work much better if we can see each other's faces and hands in 3D," he says. "If you look at the video behind me, you can see two Meta users playing around with the same hologram, making eye contact, connected around this thing, instead of being distracted by external devices."

Meta recently hired augmented reality pioneer Steve Mann as its chief scientist. “In the very near future, wearable computers will be the dominant technology we all use. meta is the strongest contender to lead this revolution," says Mann.

Gribetz believes the system will change the way we collaborated, and even will replace our phones.

Gribetz' first encounter with augmented reality was during his service in an elite technological unit of the Intelligence Corps. He later studied computer science and neuroscience at Columbia University, which inspired the core of Meta’s Neurointerface 3D User Interface design philosophy. On the heels of Meta's explosive start, Gribetz was named to the Forbes 30 under 30 list in technology.

As for the size of the technology, the somewhat bulky headset in the demonstration will probably shrink as development continues. "In about five years, these are all going to look like strips of glass on our eyes that project holograms," promises Gribetz.

For now, Gribetz says his company will soon start to use their own device, and take all their monitors off their desks this year.

The Meta 2 Development Kit is now available for pre-order at $949 at metavision.com

SOURCE TED

By 33rd Square

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