Artificial Reality projected to be $150-billion market by 2022

Virtual, augmented, and mixed reality (MR) are enabling a fourth wave of computing power via a spatial computing revolution that integrates disruptive technologies such as sensors, big data, the cloud, AI, and wearables. The sector, which is at its tipping point, is projected to be a $150-billion market by 2022.

- 300million Cumulative VR/AR headsets that are projected to be sold between 2016 and 2020

- 50 million Monthly active users of AR game Pokémon GO

- 5 AR/VRbased unicorns

- 2/3 Proportion of leisure time VR/AR could capture

- 5 billion Projected install base of smartphones by 2018

Differences of Artificial Reality

Virtual reality
- Users enter fully immersive digital reality
- Can be computer- or video generated
- Replaces the user's existing reality by blocking out natural surroundings

Augmented reality
- Text, sound, graphics or video is superimposed atop the physical world
- Digital information is tailored to the user’s natural surroundings
- Users can see synthetic and light bouncing off real objects

Mixed reality
- The best combination of VR and AR
- Real and virtual objects are integrated into real space, and respond to the natural world
- Virtual objects are meant to look believable


(Source: Bank of America Merrill Lynch)