A recent study from eMarketer highlighted some encouraging data for Mobile Augmented Reality and Natural User Interface technology use in retail.  The first bit of data comes from a Mobile Shopping Tools study:

“Few consumers use augmented reality tools when shopping via mobile, but those who do are finding them extremely useful. In fact, while just 9% of US internet users surveyed by Catapult Marketing in November 2013 used mobile augmented reality tools when shopping for consumer packaged goods (CPG), the majority of respondents (53%) said that augmented reality was very helpful—the No. 1 response.”

The second data point reinforces the growing adoption of Natural User Interface technologies including AR:

“In January 2014, Accenture found that “natural user interfaces” such as augmented reality were among the top technologies senior executives worldwide said they would consider as part of their future digital/IT agenda.”

With 2nd Generation Augmented Reality platforms and Natural User Interface (NUI) technologies entering the market, we’re likely going to see growing adoption from both consumer and enterprise markets.  The eMarketer graphic below speaks volumes to the growing importance of Augmented Reality.