2023: Broadening Horizons and Foundational Development
In 2023, the landscape of augmented and mixed reality research revealed a dynamic period of expansive exploration and foundational strengthening. A significant trend was the push to apply AR/MR technologies across a remarkably diverse range of sectors. We saw titles like "Impact and Limitations of AR-Based Guidance for Assembly Workers" and "Ermittlung geeigneter industrieller Anwendungen von Augmented Reality… Automobilproduktion" indicating a strong focus on industrial applications, particularly in manufacturing and automotive. Healthcare also emerged as a key area, with "Deep Immersion durch Einbindung von Haptik in Augmented Reality - Anwendungen für die medizinische Aus- und Weiterbildung" highlighting advancements in medical training. Beyond traditional technical fields, AR/MR began permeating public spaces and creative domains, as evidenced by "Mixed Reality in Public Space: Expanding Composition Practices in Choreography and Interaction Design."
Alongside this broadening of applications, there was a clear emphasis on integrating AR/MR with advanced computational intelligence. Deep learning, in particular, was frequently cited for tasks such as "Simplification of 3D CAD models with deep learning for augmented reality" and "Reconnaissance des documents avec de l'apprentissage profond pour la réalité augmentée," showcasing efforts to make AR systems more intelligent and capable of understanding real-world environments.
From a technical standpoint, researchers were busy building out the core infrastructure and tools. Titles like "Mobile Augmented Reality: User Interfaces, Frameworks, and Intelligence" and "VisionARy: An Open Source 3D Environment Segmentation Toolkit for Augmented Reality" reflect a drive towards robust, adaptable platforms. Crucially, the year also saw a burgeoning focus on the human element, with titles like "Effective Use of Virtual and Augmented Reality - A Technical and Socio-Behavioral Affordance Perspective" and "How to Evaluate If Collaborative Augmented Reality Speaks to Its Users" underscoring the growing importance of user experience, collaboration, and accessibility in design.
2024: Maturing Applications, Advanced Interaction, and Emerging Societal Dialogues
Moving into 2024, the trends observed in the previous year continued to evolve, with a marked shift towards more specialized and critical applications, alongside a deeper dive into human-computer interaction (HCI) and the initial exploration of broader societal implications.
Medical applications became even more sophisticated, with titles such as "AI-enabled IVUS-guided augmented reality for liver surgery" and "Mixed reality as 3D medical imaging to improve neurosurgical care" demonstrating a focus on high-stakes, precision-guided procedures. Similarly, industrial use cases moved beyond general guidance to more complex scenarios, like "Human Computer Interaction Design for Assisted Bridge Inspections via Augmented Reality" and the development of "automatisch generierten Werkerassistenzsystems" for enterprise IT.
A significant theme for 2024 was the advancement of user interaction paradigms. Beyond traditional inputs, research explored "Preference in Voice Commands and Gesture Controls With Hands-Free Augmented Reality" and even "Development of an SSVEP based brain-computer interface in integration with augmented reality," pushing the boundaries of intuitive and hands-free control. Enhancing security and privacy, particularly through "Eye Gaze" in head-mounted systems, also came into sharper focus, signifying a maturing understanding of the practical challenges of AR deployment.
Perhaps the most notable shift in 2024 was the emergence of a critical discourse around the societal impact of AR/MR. Titles like "A Viewpoint on the Societal Impact of Everyday Augmented Reality and the Need for Perceptual Human Rights" and "Securing Bystander Privacy in Mixed Reality While Protecting the User Experience" indicate a growing awareness of the ethical and social responsibilities that come with pervasive AR technology. This proactive engagement with societal concerns marks a crucial progression from the more application- and technical-centric discussions of previous years.
2025: The Path Towards Ubiquitous and Intelligent AR
Looking ahead to 2025, the research trajectory points towards an even more integrated, intelligent, and seamless future for augmented and mixed reality. The concept of "Next-Generation Mixed-Reality User Experiences" becomes a prominent theme, explicitly mentioning "Smart Guidance Systems." This suggests a move beyond merely overlaying information to providing context-aware, predictive, and intelligent assistance. The ambition for AR to become an "AR Personal Assistant" further emphasizes this trend toward sophisticated, individualized support.
The ultimate vision for everyday adoption is clearly articulated with "Present and Future of Everyday-Use Augmented Reality Eyeglasses," indicating a push for AR hardware to become less obtrusive and more akin to standard eyewear. This quest for ubiquity means AR will increasingly serve daily needs, as hinted by applications like "Augmented Reality Art Museum Mobile Guide for Enhancing User Experience," which showcases how AR can enrich common cultural activities.
Finally, the continued drive for deeper immersion and more natural interaction is evident in "Feedback multisensoriels pour la manipulation d'objets virtuels en réalité augmentée." This highlights a commitment to developing richer, more tactile, and comprehensive sensory experiences, moving beyond visual augmentation to engage multiple senses for truly immersive and intuitive virtual object manipulation. This future period builds on the technical and application foundations, focusing on refining the user experience to be transparent, intelligent, and truly integrated into the fabric of daily life.
