Is there a place for augmented reality in the enterprise?

While attending Mobile Apps Outlook 2009, hosted by Potomac Tech Wire, the panelists discussed many interesting developments on the consumer side of the space. While our coverage in FierceMobileIT does not typically focus on that area, one development certainly got my attention.

Augmented reality for mobile apps is beginning to go mainstream. In fact, the new Yelp app for the iPhone and Wikitude AR Travel Guide for Android are just two examples of apps that already use this technology. To be honest, many people attending the panel discussion were not familiar with the term "augmented reality." So, let's begin by making sure we're all on the same page.

Augmented reality is when the hardware user's live view of his environment is merged with virtual images from a device. For example, with the Yelp app the user could point his iPhone at a downtown street, and through the iPhone's monocle he would see stores and restaurants. Then an additional layer would appear on the screen with all sorts of information on these businesses (see a demo video here). Pretty cool, huh?

So, my question is: What does this technology mean for the enterprise? If AR applications are fine tuned to recognize what is being viewed in the monocle, and not just the general direction the user is looking, from a detected global position, I can think of a number of instances where this technology would be helpful.

When the copier machine is going berserk, an employee might eventually be able to point her mobile device at the machine's display and an app would appear to translate the blinking lights into a troubleshooting session. Or what if there was a facial recognition app, which allowed someone in sales or PR to inconspicuously wave their devices at a person and get all of their business contact information? 

Do you think augmented reality has a place in the enterprise? If so what is it and how far off is app development? Please leave a comment below.

Related Articles:
Mobile Apps Outlook 2009 in pictures