The Pokémon Go craze ended months ago—an eternity in tech years. And yet, for some reason, your boss can’t stop raving about “that virtual reality technology that puts a new layer on top of everything.” He’s dying for you to implement it into your brand’s next campaign and constantly sending you links to VR tech providers. Yesterday, he asked where you were in getting a project plan together. But you’ve been reaching out to all the providers he’s recommending and they all seem to say the same thing: “Oh, you don’t want VR. You want AR technology. Augmented reality.”
You figured as much, but pushing back on your CMO didn’t quite make your 90-day goal sheet. So now you need to find a way to research the technology he wants, and explain that your brand is really hoping to pursue AR as eloquently as possible. The problem? You’re not completely sure what the difference is.
According to Augment, a leading augmented reality platform, “Virtual reality technology facilitates the creation of real-life simulations, and creates an immersive experience for any user that makes them feel as if they are actually interacting with their digital environment. Augmented reality, on the other hand, layers digital enhancements geared to enrich an existing real life setting by appealing to the senses.” Where VR strives to create an immersive experience, AR combines information with reality to reimagine the world around you.
Imagine you’re standing on the street outside your office, on your way to a nearby department store to shop on your lunch break. VR could place you inside the store without taking another step; AR could provide information on the stores, restaurants, and historic sites you pass on your way into the store. It could perhaps even provide more detailed information on the items the store sold once you entered.
In that way, augmented reality apps could be the more exciting of the two emergent technology platforms in terms of marketing transformation. For all its magic, VR requires a dedicated headset, a platform, and heavy development to create an experience. Therefore, it’s more limited in some ways. AR is less obtrusive but just as informative.
The other great thing about AR is that it can synthesize data from familiar, widely available technology. Take, for example, the head-up display (HUD). As you drive, a semi-transparent HUD appears displaying the MPH, fuel level, and directions sourced from Google Maps.
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The Pokémon Go Effect
The potential of augmented reality apps was revealed first by Snapchat and became inescapable over the summer with the success of the Pokémon Go app. Due to its success, many are looking to AR as a platform for success and creativity. Of course, the initial numbers from Pokémon Go were staggering—with approximately 80 million active users at its peak. Those numbers are down to an estimated 23 million, but its success had everyone wondering if AR technology was the next big thing.
It’s easy to see why. Augmented reality apps only require a smartphone and a camera. AR can easily find a home indoors (think households or museums), outdoors (a local arboretum, for example), or in a specific geographical region. It can even be applied to the universe with apps such as Star Chart, which convenient points out stars, planets, constellations, and other interesting celestial objects. Just by opening an app, a user’s entire world can be enhanced.
Beyond Flower Crowns
Okay, so your experience with AR may be limited to the flower crown filter on Snapchat, but there’s more to it than funny faces. In fact, several companies have already benefited from using AR in key products.
Ikea saw the value of an augmented reality app that would take full advantage of the incredible popularity of its annual catalog. While everyone loves looking at the pictures and daydreaming about their dream kitchens, the transition from page to reality can be a difficult one for furniture. That’s why Ikea has taken advantage of smartphones and tablets to bring its offerings into your home with no assembly required.
Every Ikea annual catalog has an augmented reality app that uses a device’s camera to place different items within their home. Using AR, you can see just how that desk or chair fits into your home decor.
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Source: Skyword