Author: Rebecca

Though the technology is becoming quite popular as a teaching tool, many wonder if it will continue.

Colleges and universities are both beginning to take a look at augmented reality as they discover its potential as a teaching tool, but many wonder whether it is simply a gimmick that will temporarily catch the attention of students, or whether it is a trend that will continue to develop over time.

With the high penetration of smartphone and tablets among college-age students, the technology holds potential.

The latest estimates have said that among students who are between the ages of 16 and 24 years old, 71 percent currently have smartphones. This means that nearly three out of every four students already has the technology that would be required to be able to take advantage of augmented reality learning tools if they were being offered by their schools. It is, however, the professors and the teachers who are slow to embrace the technology as a part of their lessons and lectures.

Only a few trailblazers have worked augmented reality into their classrooms as a teaching tool.

This is leading many to wonder whether a considerable opportunity to help to build significant workplace skills is currently being overlooked. Augmented reality could potentially provide more engaging and interactive lessons that would allow students to develop their skills for facing the real world.

AR technology gives people the ability to add a digital element to print materials, objects, and geographic locations. A smartphone or a tablet are all that is required to use an applicable app and scan the object to which the digital content has been applied.

The University of Manchester presented a considerable and successful example of the use of augmented reality as a learning tool, through its Scarlett Project. This program gave student device users the ability to access rare manuscripts and books in their digital versions through AR technology.

Similarly, City University London also used a number of mobile friendly techniques, for their Creating Augmented Reality in Education (CARE) project for students in the healthcare program, which provided them – among other things – with a number of enhanced “health walks” that combined AR and GPS technologies.

There are many drivers that are sending this channel right to the brink of its fastest increase yet.

The mcommerce world is sitting right at the very edge of the fastest growth that it has ever experienced, and there are a number of reasons that this already rapid increase is about to take off like never before.

A recent report has identified some of the drivers that are sending the mobile figures skywards.

One of the most common leisure time activities among today’s consumer is to watch television while holding a smartphone or tablet device. This second screen makes it possible to investigate all manner of topics, ideas, and products that appear on the television before the consumer. The mcommerce industry is not oblivious to this trend and is working very hard to create smartphone and tablet friendly sites and apps that will relate to what is being seen on the televisions so that it becomes possible to capitalize on this activity.

This mcommerce trend is known as the “second screen”, where two devices are used for watching television.

This occurs when the viewer is watching television but uses the smaller device in order to provide support information. A new BI Intelligence report is now showing that second screen, as well as a number of other drivers, are sending mcommerce rapidly skyward at what will soon be an explosive rate. Among the other drivers that were named include smartphone optimized websites and social networks.

Companies are beginning to use their carefully devised tools to help to monitor how second screen audiences are using their smartphones and tablets in order to enhance their television watching experience. The goal is to use this opportunity to improve the mcommerce offerings in a way that they will be seen as more useful and that they will help to encourage greater conversion rates and sales.

The report also named additional reasons that illustrate why second screen based mcommerce will certainly succeed. These include: rapid usage growth, widespread acceptance and adoption, well established activity, and the ease of creating bridges through sites and apps designed specifically for this experience.