글로벌 기술회사, 올해 AR과 VR 개발에 집중(2022.02.17)

2022.02.17

Global tech firms to focus on AR/VR development in 2022 (digitimes.com)

Global tech companies are expected to concentrate on the development of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies in 2022, in the hope of using them to launch metaverse projects in the future, according to industry observers.

 

글로벌 기술 회사들은 2022년  메타버스 프로젝트를 발매하면서, 그 도구로 AR과 VR 개발에 집중할 것으로 예상된다.

 

Foreign media reports suggested that Meta's Oculus VR app was the most downloaded app in the US on Christmas Day last year. Market research firm IDC estimated that Oculus had sold between 5.3-6.8 million VR headsets in 2021, almost doubling its device sales of 3.5 million in 2020.

 

외국의 미디어 보고서는 메타(페이스북)의 오큘러스 가상현실 앱이 크리스마스 시즌에 가장 많이 다운받은

앱이였다고 제시했다.

시장조사업체 IDC는 2021년 오큘러스 헤드셋이 5.3~6.8백만대 팔렸을 것으로 추정했다.

이는 2020년도 판매 대수 3.5백만대의 거의 2배에 가까운 수치다.

 

As Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg places a massive bet on the metaverse, some experts have pointed out that VR technologies are key to realizing the concept.

메타  사장 마크 주커버그는 메타버스에 집중 투자하고 있는데, 전문가들은 VR기술이 이를 구현하는데

핵심 기술이라고 지적했다.

Metaverse frenzy to slow down, AR to attract more attention in 2022

Looking ahead to 2022, industry observers believe that the metaverse frenzy that has taken hold of global tech firms will cool down, mainly because the concept cannot come to fruition in a short period of time. Companies are expected to shift their focus to related technologies such as AR and VR devices, the observers explained.

Currently, some killer applications for the Internet include emails, online search, news, and shopping. Industry observers predict that visual search will become a key killer app for AR, allowing smartphone users to point their cameras at real-world items to contextualize what they are. The observers said visual search could be used for education, fashion, and shopping.

 

The observers also expect AR to be the heart of the metaverse instead of VR. While VR devices are becoming easier to wear and visual fidelity in VR is improving, people will still resist the idea of performing their daily routines in a VR headset, the observers explained. People will also need to sit and stand still when using VR devices, they added.

 

On the other hand, AR technologies could be integrated directly into people's physical surroundings and will offer a more natural experience to users, the observers said. They predict that AR will overshadow VR as the world's primary gateway to the metaverse and that AR could potentially replace the current ecosystem of PCs and phones as people's primary interface to digital content.

Tech giants stepping up deployments for MR

Although the metaverse frenzy is expected to slow down this year, 2022 could still be a key year for metaverse development. Global tech giants Apple, Google, Meta, and Microsoft are all planning to introduce new metaverse-related hardware and software services in 2022. They are also expanding investments in metaverse-related R&D.

 

According to Crunchbase data, startups alone invested US$12.1 billion in virtual technologies in 2021. Meta had revealed in 2021 that it would spend about US$10 billion on XR (extended reality) investments, while Goldman Sachs projected that the XR market would attract investments of US$1.35 trillion over the next few years.

 

A report from Vnyz Research in August 2021 also predicted that the global AR/VR market will generate US$165.3 billion by 2027, a huge increase from the US$28.2 billion in 2020, with a projected CAGR of 50.6%.

Moreover, DIGITIMES Research suggested that global shipments of AR/VR headsets will surge from 11.4 million units in 2021 to 19.1 million units in 2022. It predicted AR/VR headset shipments will reach 112 million units by 2026, with a CAGR of 58% between 2021-2026.

 

Venture capital firm Loup Ventures expects Meta and Apple to have the most competitiveness among tech companies in 2022 due to their active deployments of metaverse-related technologies.

Meta holds advantages over competitors in VR market

Meta is currently leading in the development of XR technologies. Its subsidiary Oculus accounted for 75% of the global VR market share in 2021. Although Meta did not disclose the sales numbers of Oculus, Qualcomm revealed that Oculus had sold over 10 million VR wearables in the first 11 months of 2021.

 

Last October, Meta gave a preview of its wireless high-end "Project Cambria" headset device, which reportedly will be named Quest Pro and launched in the second quarter of 2022. It reportedly will be a MR headset with eye, hand, and facial tracking features.

 

Meta Reality Labs is also developing own-brand AR glasses and has established a basic structure for MR hardware. For software development, Meta introduced Horizon Worlds (formerly known as Facebook Horizon) in 2019 and Horizon Workrooms in August 2021, allowing users to work and collaborate remotely. The company is planning to create software that enable users to socialize, trade, and enjoy entertainment in virtual spaces in the future.

Apple's MR glasses may be on horizon

Market observers are looking forward to Apple launching metaverse-related devices in 2022. Although Apple has not publicly announced that it would develop any MR headset, industry sources suggested that the company will provide a preview of its AR/VR glasses in 2022 and launch them in 2023.

 

Despite market speculation about Apple's MR products, Apple CEO Tim Cook had stressed that the company will not be metaverse-oriented but will place its focus on AR investments.

Industry observers believe that Apple's AR/VR glasses will have limited market penetration due to their high prices. The glasses will reportedly be marketed at US$3,000 and higher.

Google forms new AR team

Google has not been able to dominate the consumer smart glasses market, even after it introduced the world's first smart glasses in 2013. However, industry sources said the company might make a foray into the consumer AR device market if smart glasses replace smartphones one day.

According to foreign media reports, Google has recruited Mark Lucovsky, former general manager for Operating Systems at Meta, to lead its operating systems team for AR. Google is also looking to hire several AR OS senior software developers and engineers.

In 2020, Google acquired Canada-based AR glasses startup North, which could develop more advanced display and sensor systems as well as high-performance CPUs for Google's smart glasses. The acquisition could help Google to regain its position in the smart glasses market.

Microsoft working with Qualcomm on custom chips for AR glasses

Microsoft is also a frontrunner in AR development. In 2016, it launched the world's first "real" AR device, the HoloLens, but the size and appearance of the device was not suitable for the consumer market. The device also cost US$3,500 apiece, which was too expensive for most consumers.

Despite being unsuitable for the consumer market, HoloLens has attracted interest from the US Defense Department, which signed a US$22 billion deal with Microsoft in early 2021 for 120,000 HoloLens units for military use. However, related testing was pushed back to 2022. Many hospitals also expressed interest in using HoloLens for surgeries and even remote operations.

At CES 2022, Microsoft announced its partnership with Qualcomm to co-develop customized chips for AR glasses. Microsoft's HoloLens2 currently incorporates Qualcomm's Snapdragon processor. While Qualcomm is reportedly developing the third-generation Snapdragon XR3, it remains unclear whether Microsoft's HoloLens3 will adopt Snapdragon XR3 or customized chips co-developed by both companies.

For software development, Microsoft has introduced its Mesh platform to enable geographically distributed teams to meet and collaborate in shared mixed reality. Mesh is like a video conference platform, but users are represented by 3D avatars. It has adopted VR technologies from Attspace, which Microsoft acquired in 2017. Microsoft is planning to apply Mesh to its Teams business communication platform and introduced the final product in 2022.

Market demand for AR/VR technologies continues to rise

Supply chain players specializing in optical components, sensors, display modules, display panels, camera lenses, batteries, and other AR/VR-related components are all expected to benefit from the rising demand for AR/VR technologies.

Industry sources recently revealed that some Taiwan companies have secured pancake/Fresnel lens orders from Apple, Meta, and Sony. Meanwhile, market analysts familiar with XR software pointed out that Chinese companies will help manufacture Meta's Quest Pro, Sony's PSVR2, and even key components of Apple's MR devices.

In terms of chipsets, Apple's MR devices are expected to contain its self-developed chips. Meta is also reportedly developing its own chips for MR applications. Microsoft, Pimax, and Panasonic's subsidiary Shifrall are all expected to adopt Qualcomm's Snapdragon XR solutions.