AR is becoming increasingly popular, with more invested into this tech than ever before.

There are many forms of technology that are taking off in the mobile sphere, and among them, a great deal of attention is being focused on the augmented reality app and the potential it has for a range of different purposes.

From real time guides for mechanics and surgeons to digital consumer products, it has potentially limitless uses.

This year, there will be an estimated investment of $670 million into the development of an augmented reality app of one form or another. These applications can be as serious as those providing guidance to heart surgeons who need to be able to track the location of various circulatory pathways, to jet engine repair instructions, to entertainment as seemingly simple as telling children’s bedtime stories or bringing a child’s drawings to life.

These two categories of augmented reality app forms are considered to have equally lucrative potential.

The Colorapp, for instance allows a child to be able to color in printable drawings that appear to then spring to life when they are viewed through a smartphone or tablet that is running the application. Of course, this is far from the only digital toy that uses this tech for kids. Tocaboca provides another range of AR options, including the Toca Hair Salon Me, the Toca Doctor, and Toca Builder, all aimed at entertaining children.

This is quite appealing to parents, as well, who enjoy the fact that their children have a highly appealing and entertaining option that is non-competitive, open-ended, and that does not include violence – an achievement that is increasingly rare in today’s children’s toy marketplace.

For adults in business, on the other hand, there are also some applications that can help to bring back appeal in areas that could otherwise be rather drab. A traditional line of slides can be dressed up for the audience using eMaze, which provides a range of professional looking templates that enhance a presentation.

It is expected that this type of augmented reality app, as futuristic as it seems today, will be nearly commonplace by the end of next year as a growing number of companies discover ways that they can use it to appeal to customers and clients.

Report highlights changes in consumer behavior

A new report from BI Intelligence highlights the changes in consumer behavior between those that use tablets and those that use smartphones. Behavior between these two demographics has been fragmenting for some time, with tablets users treating their devices more like traditional computers and smartphone users treating their devices like social media tools and portable gaming platforms. The differentiation between smartphone and tablet users has been modest, except in the retail sector where mobile consumers have become enamored with mobile commerce.

Tablets are favored shopping platforms

According to the report from BI Intelligence, consumers are beginning to favor tablets when it comes to mobile shopping. Many favor these devices because they provide a more enjoyable shopping experience. The larger screens of tablets allow consumers to better navigate retail sites and find the products they are interested in. The report also shows that tablets are becoming quite popular research tools for consumers that like to compare products.

Consumers spend more through tablets

Tablet users prefer to spend money at night, according to the report. Tablets allow for a shopping experience that is similar to what can be found on a traditional computer. This makes it easier for consumers to do their shopping from home, thus making them more comfortable with parting with their money. Smartphones are still quite popular when it comes to mobile commerce, but these devices are primarily used in physical stores rather than for home shopping.

Retailers work to engage tablet consumers more directly

Retailers are beginning to take note of the growing favor that consumers are showing for tablet devices. As such, the report notes that many retailers have begun tweaking their websites to be more accommodating the tablet users. Making a shopping experience more enjoyable specifically for tablet users may alienate smartphone users who still represent a significant portion of the mobile commerce market.