The added bandwidth and low latency could also lead to better augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality experiences. Better connection means more hardcore computing can go to the cloud.

The device, at this point, doesn’t have augmented reality (AR) features, but it does let users take pictures with little effort, in effect letting them connect to Snapchat while actively engaging with the world.

No technology holds more immediate potential for this than augmented reality (AR), because of its wide availability on shoppers’ smartphones. We estimate that the number of AR users in the US will grow 14.9% to 58.8 million in 2019. But also, the more than 20 million users who began using AR between 2016 and 2018 will have grown more accustomed to its use in everyday life.

But Snap also has focused on offering unique ad products that involve AR, and it has made it easier to buy those types of ads on a self-serve basis. User growth was strong, and engagement was up as well. Snap reported another strong quarter of user gains; Snapchat had 229 million worldwide daily active users (DAUs) in Q1, up 17% from Q4 2019.

Computer Vision and Augmented Reality. Computer vision and augmented reality (AR) technologies are also helping bridge language and cultural gaps. These applications typically involve pointing a mobile device’s camera at an image or text to view an overlaid translation. Others can identify words and convert them to imagery.

We expect more mobile AR, remote gaming and interactive video to come, as publishers can take advantage of cloud computing, low latency and higher throughput rates to deliver new forms of media and advertising. Although 2019 was the symbolic beginning of the 5G era, 2020 will have the first stirrings of the 5G services and media revolution.

Another 14% of respondents said they want to do more work in augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). Just 8% desired to do more coding.

Adding to the buzz around AR, Facebook in October renamed its Camera Effects platform Spark AR. The closed beta program allows developers to build AR features on Instagram and in the Facebook news feed to create more interactive display ads.

Bizrate Insights polling from December 2018 found that half of US Internet users had never used VR or AR (augmented reality) while shopping and had no interest in doing so. More than one in 10 weren't even familiar with these technologies.

Just 6% of US consumers have used AR and VR, per Bizrate Insights. Though it has potential—AR/VR shopping was up from just 4% in November 2018, and 39% of non-users expressed interest in the technology in the August 2019 poll—it still lags behind social commerce and visual search.

Just one-fifth cited augmented reality (AR) and even fewer (7%) said they were most excited about chatbots. While ViSenze powers visual commerce at scale for retailers and publishers—so it may not be surprising that visual search was a top response—the technology is poised for mainstream adoption. According to data from Bizrate Insights, 12% of US consumers have tried it.

Augmented Reality. In a retail setting, AR can manufacture visuals of how merchandise will look on a shopper, without him/her having to try it on. In China, Alibaba is pushing its version of AR mirrors called “Magic Mirror” at fashion outlets. The technology allows shoppers to try several different options with just a few clicks.

Voice commerce might one day change how people shop online. But for now, only a minority of consumers regularly use a voice-activated smart speaker to make purchases.

The ecommerce giant has built a tradition of launching innovative retail technology in China on Singles' Day, such as augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) shopping experiences and live streaming commerce. Online-to-offline (O2O) will be a big part of this year's event in China.

Last month, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg sat through a congressional hearing over the company’s Libra cryptocurrency efforts, Instagram launched a standalone messaging app for users, and Twitter banned political advertising on its platform—and that was just a tiny portion of what made the news.