Consumers expect VR and AR to go mainstream with the introduction of 5G: Report

Consumers across the globe expect virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) to merge with physical reality and the upcoming 5G technology will help make such experiences mainstream, a new report revealed on Wednesday. The report by technology company Ericsson said that as boundaries between people’s perception of physical and VR start to blur, the way they consume information and media will fundamentally change. “Realities will not merge if the user is tethered to a computer or cut off from physical reality. Early adopters of VR or AR expect next-generation networks like 5G to play a central role,” the report noted. Seven out of 10 early adopters expect VR/AR to change everyday life fundamentally in six domains: media, education, work, social interaction, travel and retail. Nearly 36 per cent of the adopters of AR/VR have expectations on 5G to provide VR/AR mobility through a stable, fast and high-bandwidth network. Thirty per cent of the early adopters also expect 5G to enable tethered headsets to become wireless. The respondents that included 9,200 respondents in France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Spain and Britain expect virtual screens to start replacing televisions and theatres in less than a year.