Ninety percent of tech leaders and 83% of business leaders believe the No. 1 priority for enterprises in 2015 is to increase the use of innovative technologies, according to a Forrester survey. Augmented reality and virtual reality play a critical role in enhancing worker productivity and enriching and creating better customer experiences, according to a new report from Forrester. As a result, the number of technology companies exploring within this space is growing, evident from the news that Nokia reportedly will announce its first major virtual reality project next week; however, it is augmented reality that will ultimately have a greater business impact, according to the study.

Augmented and virtual reality are already delivering on three key business opportunities:

  • Enhance worker productivity. Microsoft’s HoloLens’ 3D augmented reality allows NASA scientists to be present together virtually, each with their own virtual perspective of geological formations.
  • Enrich customer-employee interactions with supported devices. By combining Epson Moverio with technology from Evena Medical, phlebotomists can scan a patient’s arm and superimpose the veins in their field of vision, making it impossible to miss.
  • Create innovative customer experiences. Chevy’s Go Drive for Oculus allows potential buyers to see what their driving experience would be like in the mountains of New Zealand.

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