1 OVERVIEW
Since the first deployments of 5G networks , AR has had , and will continue to be , an important chapter in the book of 5G-enabled applications . Certainly , the common perception has been to associate AR to entertainment and media applications , but beyond that easy hype , AR has always had strong potential enterprises looking to improve their performance and efficiencies . 5G is enhancing that , providing the necessary infrastructure for exploring AR-based enterprise applications not possible before . This article is based on a research on the convergence between 5G and AR conducted by AREA ( Augmented Reality for Enterprise Alliance ) in 2021 . The article examines how the enterprise AR ecosystem perceives the coming of 5G , which enterprise AR solutions can be developed using 5G deployments , what are the difficulties in achieving , and what are the benefits . The analysis is based on a collection of enterprise 5G deployments , covering the period 2017-2021 . The overall result shows that the development of 5G-based enterprise AR applications were in an early stage of development in 2021 , but there are promising use cases that showed the potential of 5G in driving adoption of enterprise AR applications in various sectors , particularly in manufacturing .
Key words : Augmented Reality , 5G , AR-based enterprise applications , Technology Adoption , Technology Perception , Industry 4.0
1.1 INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY
This paper is based on a member defined research project delivered on behalf of the Augmented Reality for Enterprise Association ( AREA ) during the period May-August 2021 . The study had an educational and a research objective . The educational objective focuses on the development of training materials on 5G for AREA members . The research objective is aimed to explore the role of 5G in the development of enterprise AR applications in various sectors , particularly manufacturing . The research activities should be seen as a continuation of explorative work AREA is delivering to its members in emerging technologies ( including research in the role of AR , IoT and AI ). The research project was completed in September 2021 . This article is based on the research results , and it assumes that the reader has an understanding of 5G .
1.2 THE RESEARCH QUESTION
The move towards 5G era in mobile communications could create the conditions for a new set of use cases and enhance the sophistication of several others that are suffering by limitations of existing telecommunications networks such as high latency , low bandwidth , and data rates . 5G will not only break existing performance barriers , but it will enable new applications and new business models in a variety of business environments .
AR has evolved dramatically during this decade with advancements in computer graphics , computing , sensing , and hardware solutions . Certainly , those advancements have showed the potential of AR-based solutions in enterprise . However , technological limitations – among others - have restricted the AR ecosystem to show the entire potential of AR-based solutions for enterprises . This research wants to explore if 5G represents the opportunity for the AR
IIC Journal of Innovation 15