Rumor has it that Apple is inching its way to Augmented Reality with its relatively new AR glasses project. The project is known within the company as T288. According to a Bloomberg News report in November 2017, the company was working on new AR glasses that are slated to debut in 2019 and for official launch in 2020.

With very little news on the project released since that time, other reports have speculated that the company has other timelines in which to debut and launch the product, which may also include some level of virtual reality technology as well. Apple’s purchase of augmented reality lens company, Akonia Holographics, back in August 2017 created a lot of interest as Akonia’s primary focus is on creating transparent AR displays with a full color range.

Akonia’s progress on thin and transparent lenses shows Apple’s steady, but quiet progress made towards releasing an augmented reality product in the coming years.

According to “The Wearable Computing – Global Market Outlook (2017-2026)” report, the global wearable computing market accounted for $17.59 billion in revenue in 2017 and by 2026, is expected to reach at least $115.58 billion in revenue. In terms of refinement in innovation, networking and recognition technologies for wearables as well as implementation from the field of the Internet of Things and smart technology will fuel major growth points within the market.

While no clear word has come directly from Apple on the progress of it Augmented Reality Glasses product, The Motley Fool offers some details:

• The main takeaways for Apple investors are that the company is undoubtedly moving further into AR, and that it’s unlikely all of this attention is only for iOS and Apple’s mobile devices. Though it’s a great first step, augmented reality is best experienced with a wearable device; it would be odd for Apple to continually pour time and resources into AR if it’s only going to be used on the iPad and iPhone.
•  So it may be that Apple is indeed working toward its own AR glasses. And when they come, their potential to boost iPhone sales — and bring in their own revenue — could easily make them one of the most significant devices to come from Apple in years.

Certainly, a path forward in the way of augmented reality glasses could give a boost to Apple’s very popular iPhone sales as the powerful processor within the iPhone would be catalyst for the glasses. A solid AR glasses product could result in an extra layer of growing bottom line for Apple within the wearables market as well.

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