Type of Article: MacTech Blog

The early excitement surrounding AR (augmented reality) and VR (virtual reality) has prompted some substantial bets from major players, including Google, Samsung, Microsoft, and Facebook. ABI Research (www.abirsearch.com) says Microsoft’s Hololens will likely be a major driver of consumer AR devices, while Google Cardboard will continue to be the first choice for an inexpensive VR experience (estimated to ship around 1.5 million units by then end of 2015), and will join Samsung’s Gear VR in driving mobile-reliant device growth.

As wearables continue to explode, the discussion of practical applications for wearables within businesses becomes more and more important. At the end of last year a survey of 300 top IT leaders showed that over a third of the surveyed companies were interested in using wearables, but most also felt that the current market did not have any offerings that were ready for adoption into a corporate environment.

New data from Juniper Research (www.juniperresearch.com) says that the number of IoT (Internet of Things) connected devices will number 38.5 billion in 2020, up from 13.4 billion in 2015: a rise of over 285%.

While IoT “smart home” based applications grab media headlines, it is the industrial and public services sector – such as retail, agriculture, smart buildings and smart grid applications – that will form the majority of the device base, notes the research group. This is due in no small part to a much stronger business case for these types of applications.

SOASTA, which specializes in performance analytics, has unveiled the findings of its annual SOASTA Back to School Shopping Report Card, which found that nearly all (91%) of parents who plan to shop online for back to school report there are stressors for them when making online purchases for the new school year.

Biometric technologies are developed constantly, strengthening their position in both existing markets like law enforcement and government applications, but also in emerging high-value segments like the consumer and banking markets.

Near-infrared iris recognition technology is a promising up-and-comer for both smartphone applications and enterprise access control, while ultrasound fingerprint and vein recognition companies are looking to establish their dominance in banking and finance applications, according to ABI Research (www.abiresearch.com).