According to a recent report, augmented and virtual reality are set to explode over the next five years, with forecasts predicting over $150 billion in revenue by 2020. It will be interesting to watch the AR/VR race play out, as there are key differences between the two. We caught a glimpse of what is happening in these two spaces in the Chicago area at our last We Are Wearables Chicago event at 1871. 

Did you ever play Assassin in college? Maybe you saw those crazy co-eds running around campus, trying to be the last (wo)man standing. Now imagine a hi-tech version of the game, complete with an app and analytics on who got hit when. That’s what augmented reality gaming platform, Lyteshot is all about. 

Lyteshot was one of the featured wearable tech startups at the last We Are Wearables Chicago. The company is taking gaming out of the living room and into the real world. The AR mobile gaming platform uses connected peripherals called Lyters, your smartphone and a pair of smart glasses to bring games to life in a brand new way. 

Switching from real-life to another reality, I had the opportunity to test Cubicle Ninja at the Chicago event last month, and it was one of the coolest experiences. I was transported to a serene beach through their Guided Meditation VR app. Unaware of all the noise and networking happening around me, for five minutes I enjoyed peace and tranquility, sitting in an average office chair.

The future of this technology isn’t just an escape from reality. Cubicle Ninja talked about healthcare and psychological wellness apps, as well as many other business applications. The potential for virtual reality isn’t limited to entertainment and gaming.

It was great to witness two very different applications - live–action gaming in the real world vs. a closed, fully immersive world. The two markets of AR and VR are definitely ready to change the worlds around us. And I’ll be first in line to purchase a LyteShot to organize a game of Assassin in Chicago. If you want in, let me know!

This post was written by Tory Patrick, Vice President at the Uproar PR, a full-service public relations and social media agency with offices in Chicago, Orlando and Toronto. Uproar PR works with many technology clients, including wearables, connected home, IoT and apps, and have been supporters of the We Are Wearables Toronto & Chicago chapters since the start. Tory is also the co-organizer of We Are Wearables Chicago. Learn more about Uproar PR at www.uproarpr.com.