Almost 40% of Britons buy the wrong size Christmas tree every year, not to mention clothes, shoes and furniture. The IKEA Place AR app allows people to place furniture into their homes at the touch of a button. But can AR offer a practical solution to the risky business of furniture shopping?

Due to the convenience of buying toys online, brick-and-mortar kids stores have been struggling. In a bid to lure people back to the shop floor, Toys R Us is unveiling Play Chaser: an AR app specifically designed to bring the toys on it's shelf to life through games and experiences.

The consistency and efficiency of e-commerce – with one-click ordering and same-day delivery – is driving greater expectations of traditional retailers. How are brick-and-mortar stores adopting features of online shopping, and what digital services do people want to see on the high street?

Augmented reality entered mainstream consciousness through mobile gaming and marketing gimmicks, but we're now seeing more practical uses such as videoconferencing app Vuforia Chalk. Is there an appetite for serious AR tools or do people think the tech is just good for fun?