Hi everyone, In the fall of 2024, I will begin my master’s program in HCI. AR and VR technology truly interests me. This, in my opinion, is going to be the new norm for interpersonal communication. However, I have no idea how the work market is right now. Is employment in AR and VR available? Do you believe that this route is safe?
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Meta is keen on pushing its Metaverse which is going to be a great breakthrough in the AR industry. This will create many job opportunities
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The progress in the AR/VR field has been really slow for the last five years, and it doesn’t look like it’s going to speed up much in the next five years either.
While there are some jobs out there, they’re not plentiful. I run my own business developing AR applications for phones and glasses across different industries, but they’re mostly just for the “wow” factor. Most AR/VR projects don’t last long after the planning stages. Even though the market is growing, my experience shows it’s mostly hype and not very sustainable.
The hardware is one limitation for the tech’s adoption, but a bigger issue is the lack of suitable data. There isn’t much data available that fits well with spatial interfaces unless you create it from scratch. Most data is designed for smartphones. Basic data has been explored and found uninteresting beyond the initial “wow” factor. In my work, I spend about 80% of my time on data discovery and collection, even though my clients think I’m just making cool interfaces.
The key to innovative work in AR/VR, especially in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), lies in the novelty of your data or your ability to develop a repeatable workflow for data discovery and collection. This is what will make a difference in AR/VR or any other field in the future, not just cool spatial interface ideas.
Studying AR/VR will definitely be enjoyable, but for a more impactful career, focusing on data rather than just user interfaces will be more beneficial. This approach will also allow you to explore various fields beyond AR/VR.
Pursuing a career in AR and VR seems to be a promising path, especially as these technologies continue to integrate into our daily lives and communication practices. It’s a dynamic field with a lot of potentials, and with your interest and upcoming education in HCI, you could be well-positioned to contribute to its growth and innovation.