FARMINGTON, Conn., July 31, 2012 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- The global market for augmented reality (AR) is, in many ways, where the mobile phone market was just a decade ago: a niche market, targeted at a very select and narrow field of potential users. But the advent of ubiquitous data-enabled smartphones and low-power, light-weight computing devices promises to push this market into the stratosphere over the latter half of the 2010s.

As the augmented reality mobile commerce market doubles and the military AR market climbs past $8 billion, market research reports from Global Information Inc will help businesses, investors, governments, and watch-dogs keep well ahead of these changes.

Wearable Augmented Reality: Google Glasses and Beyond

Is the future of Augmented Reality wearable, or hand-held? Brand new market research from Mind Commerce Publishing seeks to answer that very question, examining the prospects of wearable devices and solutions versus Augmented Reality held in the hand via a smartphone, tablet (such as iPad or Nexus 7), and other wireless devices. While the report places a lot of attention upon Google's latest wearable Augmented Reality (Project Glass), it is important to note that AR solutions encompasses much more than just the device and/or interface. This research includes analysis of other technologies, such as location determination, and other aspects of the value chain, such as applications in the Cloud.

An Executive Summary for this report and free sample pages from the full document are available at http://www.giiresearch.com/report/min247715-wearable-augmented-reality-google-glasses-beyond.html

Mobile Commerce in Virtual and Augmented Reality

The convergences of two powerful technologies, Augmented Reality and Mobile Commerce, will create many opportunities for new revenue-generating applications. These applications will have a directly positive impact on the mobile commerce ecosystem as new methods of interacting with real brands and real products in a virtual/augmented environment convert potential interest to actual sales.

New research from Mind Commerce Publishing predicts augmented reality mobile commerce revenues to double by 2015 to reach $2.2 billion, as the overall market surpasses $3 billion. This report analyzes the current status of and assesses the future market value for mobile-commerce with Augmented Reality applications. This research includes evaluation of NFC, NFC vs. Cloud Payments, impacts and opportunities with LTE, mobile payments market forecast, and more. It also provides analysis of Augmented Reality can be used in social selling and social media interaction.

An Executive Summary of this analysis and a free sample of the full report are available at http://www.giiresearch.com/report/min247714-mobile-commerce-virtual-augmented-reality.html

Augmented Reality in the Cloud

Augmented Reality (AR) represents a live, direct or indirect, view of a physical, real-world environment whose elements are augmented by computer-generated sensory input, that enrich the user's perception of the real world. AR applications combine virtual data into the physical real world by utilizing the wireless devices, compass, camera, and GPS system. AR represents a potential large opportunity for wireless communications for many device types including wearable equipment, while many applications will be hosted in the cloud.

This new market research report analyzes major trends in AR industry and their implications, offering an overview of AR applications and cloud-based implementation. The report also looks at wearable devices, and the leading companies behind AR, with particular focus on Google's AR business model and strategy (including Project Glass). Lastly, this report examines the overall implications of AR for the semiconductor industry.

An Executive Summary and a free sample of the full report are available at http://www.giiresearch.com/report/min247051-augmented-reality-cloud.html

Augmented Reality in the Battlefield 2012 – 2016

Augmented Reality technology has the potential to completely change the face of military combat, and can even effectively eliminate the home-ground advantage. According to new market research, the Military AR technology market will reach $8.2 billion by the end of 2016, growing at a CAGR of 25%.

While the U.S will continue lead the market from a regional perspective, leading economies from the Asia-Pacific region will significantly ramp up investments in the Military AR technology industry.

With its roots dating back to the introduction heads-up displays (HUDs) used in fighter aircraft, Military applications of AR range from live-fire training exercises to complex situational awareness systems encompassing features such as friend/foe identification, multiple sensory interfaces, location intelligence and interactive battlefield medical support.

An Executive Summary and a free sample of the full report are available at http://www.giiresearch.com/report/min246685-augmented-reality-battlefield-2012-2016.html

About Global Information Inc. Global Information (GII)

(http://www.giiresearch.com) is an information service company partnering with over 300 research companies around the world. Global Information has been in the business of distributing technical and market research for more than 25 years. Expanded from its original headquarters in Japan, Global Information now has offices in Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Europe and the United States.

SOURCE Global Information, Inc.

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