By Amit Kore, Rahul Lanje and Raghu Burra, Syntel Enterprise Architecture Group, February 2016

RealizingAugmented Reality

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Introduction Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) have been around for some time but there is renewed excitement, with industry watchers like TechCrunch, Fortune and the BBC branding 2016 as “The Year of VR.”

Samsung, Microsoft, Facebook, and Google all have launches of their headsets due in 2016. According to the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), virtual reality headsets are expected to take off in 2016 with projected sales up by 500 percent to 1.2 million units.[1] AR/VR could have hundreds of millions of users, with hardware price points similar to smartphones and tablets.

So what is this technology? VR and AR technologies both leverage similar types of technologies, and they each exist to serve the user with an enhanced or enriched experience using stereo 3D high definition video and audio, but there’s a big difference. VR is closed and fully immersive usually involving wearing a headset, while AR is open and partly immersive – you can see through and around it. VR puts users inside virtual worlds, immersing them; AR puts virtual things into users’ real worlds, augmenting them.

References[1] Consumer Technology Association (CTA) at CES 2016 http://goo.gl/qFQ3df[2] Digi-Capital’s Report http://goo.gl/QJha4V

Digi-Capital predicts that AR and VR technologies could reach $150 Billion in revenue by 2020, with AR accounting for around $120 billion and VR at $30 billion.[2]

AR VR

$150 Billion in revenue by 2020

$120 $30

Samsung’s Gear VR for their Galaxy devices was already launched in late 2015

Facebook’s Oculus Rift will launch in early 2016

Microsoft Hololens will launch in early 2016

Simple DIY Google Cardboard has brought a basic VR experience to the masses

HTC Vive VR in April

Sony’s PlayStation VR in April

500%2016

1.2 million units2016

Users

Sales

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VR is closed and fully immersive usually involving wearing a headset

VR puts users inside virtual worlds, immersing them

AR is open and partlyimmersive – you can see through and around it

AR puts virtual things into users’ real worlds, augmenting them.

AR can experienced through VR headsets as well as in apps viewed through mobile devices to blend digital components. This distinction between them can be thought as splitting hairs, but this difference could give AR the edge over not just VR, but the entire smartphone and tablet market.

A pure quantitative analysis of the AR/VR market today is challenging, because there’s not much of a track record to analyze yet. Chances are, you have already seen great examples of AR during your favorite televised sporting event, with examples that include the virtual strike zone in baseball, hockey’s infamous glowing puck, and football’s familiar “first down line” – which is virtually overlaid onto our television image in real time.

Vs

AR can experienced through VR headsets as well as in apps viewed through mobile devices to blend digital components

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How can businesses leverage this?Dramatic advances in big data analytics, artificial intelligence, enterprise APIfication and broadband internet have combined with an exponential reduction in the size and cost of sensor technology to make it possible to transform science fiction pipe dreams into a practical reality with vast possibilities.

Let’s look at how enterprises can put this technology to use in their businesses:

Logistics (warehouse management): Staff productivity can be exponentially boosted by equipping them with augmented reality headsets able to locate items within a warehouse, navigate the wearer to them, and direct them to the correct processing stations for shipping or fulfillment.

Insurance: AR/VR solutions can be used to enhance the customer experience, product demos and employee engagement in the insurance industry. Key applications include creating safety awareness content or helping train on safety and risk handing practices, but the sky is the limit as the technology matures.

Retail: AR solutions can boost sales and improve the consumer experience by enabling customers to try out products virtually before purchasing them.

Healthcare: Providers can minimize training and orientation time by leveraging AR/VR solutions for medical learning and training, or patient counseling. Gamification can be employed to encourage and track physical exercise and plan discounts can be offered to individuals with healthy lifestyles.

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Enterprises of all sizes are looking to tap into the true potential of AR systems, and the potential applications of overlaying real-time digital assets onto the real world are limitless. The addressable market for AR is considered to be similar to that of the smartphone/tablet market.

Travel: Virtual reality has the potential to profoundly change the travel business. It can enable customers to make better informed travel choices by “visiting” a destination before they even search for an airline ticket. The excitement created before the consumer’s plans are finalized could dramatically increase travel revenues.

What AR/VR technologies are available?There are quite a few software development kits (SDKs) and tools already available to develop platforms for AR/VR. These include:

Google Cardboard SDK for Unity, which enables developers to use Unity to create virtual reality experiences for Android and iOS.

PTC Vuforia is an advanced and widely adopted augmented reality (AR) technology platform which was recently purchased from Qualcomm.

MozVR is a JavaScript-based VR framework by the Mozilla Foundation that can build browser-based VR applications.

OpenCV is a library of programming functions mainly aimed at real-time computer vision, originally developed by Intel research.

Unity3D is a game development platform used to build high-quality 3D and 2D games and deploy them cross mobile, desktop and AR/VR.

The right choice of technologies for enterprise AR projects depends on many factors, from planned use cases to the business environment and conditions in the enterprise.

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Syntel’s Digital One™ solution group works to transform organizations into digital enterprises by combining the power of Syntel’s domain and enterprise systems expertise with next generation technology capabilities in Mobility, Social, Big Data Analytics, Internet of Things, Cloud and Emerging technologies.

Syntel’s holistic approach enables clients to leverage digital technologies to increase speed to market, enhance customer engagement and drive new growth avenues.

Digital One’s Innovation Center of Excellence has been developing Proofs of Concept for AR/VR in the areas of logistics and travel. These solution platforms help demonstrate the power of AR/VR to enterprises and how capable these technologies have become. Their implementations are now practical and within reach, paving the way for our clients to execute future applications both within and outside their enterprises. To speak with a Syntel representative about how we can put AR and VR to work for your enterprise, visit us online at www.syntelinc.com.

Syntel helps global enterprises thrive in the Digital Age by building agile, efficient technology infrastructures that blend existing business models with disruptive digital innovations. Syntel’s next-generation automation platform, SyntBots®, enables clients to manage, migrate, and modernize their business and technology ecosystems.

Syntel believes in a "Customer for Life" philosophy to build collaborative partnerships and creates long-term business value for its clients by investing in IP, solutions and industry-focused delivery teams with deep domain knowledge in the banking, healthcare, insurance, retail, logistics and manufacturing industries.

How Syntel can help my enterprise employ AR/VR?

About SyntelSyntel (NASDAQ: SYNT) is a leading global provider of integrated information technology and Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO) solutions spanning the entire lifecycle of business and information systems and processes. The Company is driven by its mission to create new opportunities for clients by harnessing the passion, talent and innovation of Syntel employees worldwide.

Syntel leverages dedicated Centres of Excellence, a flexible Global Delivery Model, and a strong track record of building collaborative client partnerships to create sustainable business advantagee for Global 2000 organizations. Recently named one of the “50 Best Managed Global Outsourcing Vendors” by The Black Book of Outsourcing, Syntel is assessed at SEI CMMi Level5, and is ISO 27001 and ISO 9001:2000certified.

To learn more, visit us at: www.syntelinc.com

© 2016 Syntel. All rights reserved.

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About SyntelSyntel (Nasdaq:SYNT) is a leading global provider of integrated information technology and knowledge process services. Syntel helps global enterprises evolve the core by leveraging automation, scaled agile and cloud platforms to build efficient application development and management, testing and infrastructure solutions. Syntel’s digital services enable companies to engage customers, discover new insights through analytics, and create a more connected enterprise through the internet of things. Syntel’s "Customer for Life" philosophy builds collaborative partnerships and creates long-term client value by investing in IP, solutions and industry-focused delivery teams with deep domain knowledge.

To learn more, visit us at www.syntelinc.com.

© 2017 Syntel. All rights reserved.

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