A new report from IDTechEx, “Optics and Displays in AR, VR, and MR 2020-2030: Technologies, Players and Markets,” predicts the augmented, virtual, and mixed reality optics and display markets will total more than $28 billion in the next decade. With COVID limiting physical interaction, analysts at the firm maintain that virtual communication and interaction will be the norm for many years to come.
Why do optics and displays matter? According to the report, optics influence the immersiveness of a AR/MR or a VR experience. If a user has effects such as God Rays, Rainbow effects, or headaches due to the vergence-accommodation issue, for example, this can contribute to a negative experience. In the future, improvements and changes to the optical market in both AR/MR and VR devices are an important contributor to negate these issues in the future. Displays also play an important part of the device because they create the image to be sent to the user. Different displays have different benefits, for example, a better brightness, or a better color gamut. These benefits are more applicable for certain applications, for example, AR devices typically require a high brightness to see the image in outdoor sunlight.
This report discusses the benefits and drawbacks of different optical methods and set-ups (AR/MR optics, VR optics, AR/MR micro-displays, and VR micro-displays), with case studies from a number of the major players in these markets. Within VR devices, the main optics are Fresnel lenses. These lenses magnify the display for the user to see, and has a big impact on the experience a user has when using a spatial reality device. The immersive experience for many users is defined by their first experience – if this is a positive experience, there is a high likelihood that they will continue to use the device.
For more information on the report, including how COVID has impacted the AR/VR market, major drivers for optic and display choices in an AR/MR or VR device, strengths and weaknesses of the six major micro-display types used in AR/MR and VR devices, and projected sales trends of optical devices and display devices from 2020 to 2030, read the original report.
