With augmented reality apps for business, it is easy to deliver a great digital experience on top of interactive magazines, ads, packaging, business cards and other everyday items.
Augmented reality (or AR as it is also know in the industry) is no longer a futuristic dream, it’s here now and delivering cutting-edge technology that allows users to connect with more meaningful content in everyday life by delivering a digitally enhanced view of the real world.
From exploring a new city with helpful tips to discovering additional content within the pages of a magazine, the possibilities for AR are nearly endless.
Juniper Research estimates that by 2017, more than 2.5 billion AR apps will be downloaded to devices annually. Another study forecasts that annual sales in the space will nearly double every year to hit $5.2 billion by 2016.
Hidden Creative recently revealed a 135% increase in likelihood to buy when viewing an AR version of a product versus looking at a product image.
AR also has a positive impact on value perception – with a survey participants valuing the AR product 33% higher than the non-AR product.
Here are some examples of AR apps in business:
- In 2013, Swedish furniture maker IKEA introduced an app that lets customers see what a couch or chair would look like in their living rooms.
- Audi released an AR-enabled car manual which, in addition to offering basic information about the car, the app can give instant troubleshooting feedback when a service light comes on.
- Aqri, a Los Angeles-based start-up, is developing a set of AR-enhanced educational wooden blocks that display the periodic table elements. When viewed through a tablet app, the blocks appear to chemically react with one another.
- Blippar, based in London and New York City, makes an app that recognizes the height-and-width ratios of brand logos. Scan the product with a smartphone camera, and up pops digital content such as location-based games, coupons–even a way to buy more products.
AR technology could also eventually be deployed for things such as warehouse management where augmented-reality glasses could help direct warehouse workers to the right items for packing or rather than spending several minutes finding and counting inventory, an employee could simply look at the batch of products, scan it, and then be directed to the next batch.
From differentiating ground-breaking promotional activities to effective industrial applications, augmented reality is already offering solutions to companies across a wide spectrum of fields and trades while providing businesses with new and creative ways to engage their customers.
How will augmented reality apps work in your industry?
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16 Comments
Karin
Augmented reality has been in science fiction for decades. Thanks to smartphones, the technology is finally here to make it happen, but it's been nearly two years since I read about the untapped potential of augmented reality and it's still waiting for a killer application. Still, mobile tech keeps moving toward AR. It feels tailor made for wearable technology, particularly smart glasses. New academic research has given us an insight into the exciting future possibilities for AR browsers, but it also highlights the barriers that must be overcome.
Paul
If augmented reality is emerging as a sort of on the fly information that is timely and even based on your location (via geo mobile tracking tech), then I can see this tech becoming an integral part of learning in schools and colleges. I can see that happening sooner than in the distant future. Mobile tech seems to evolve at a fast pace, often faster than most people can keep up with.
Juliet
The Volkswagen MARTA app (Mobile Augmented Reality Technical Assistance) is designed to display superimposed information on the vehicle and enable technicians to complete a repair or guide them as they service a vehicle. It only covers one car right now and it's for professional mechanics, but it makes so much sense that it's bound to spread. There's also the Audi AR app, which is like a user manual, enabling users to view the car using their iPhone and get data pop-ups on what they're looking at
Robert
I read somewhere that this technology all started with a desire to make it easier to build airplanes. A scientist at Boeing, was trying to figure out how to help workers assembling long bundles of wires for the new 777 jetliner. He thought if they could give the assembly workers a see-through display that could guide them by superimposing lines for where the wires should go on top of the board.
Allen
Imagine living in the magical world of Harry Potter, where the school hallways are lined with paintings that are alive and interactive. Now imagine you are a teacher who is creating an atmosphere like that for your students. I can see Augmented Reality (AR) allowing educators and students to do just that: unlock or create layers of digital information on top of the physical world that can be viewed through an Android or iOS device.
Jon
With the amount of Augmented Reality work being created (or at least promoted) at the moment, I thought it might be worthwhile to look at Augmented Reality Examples, that showcase the depth of what Augmented Reality has to offer us to date. To do this, I'm looking at a mix of promotional ideas, competitions, real world application, mobile, campaigns, virals and experiences. The Augmented Reality Examples I've seen go across that various mix to showcase how it can be used today.
Warren
The concept of augmented reality has been in existence for a few years now despite the fact that many users of mobile devices are under the impression that it is a new phenomenon. Even though Google Glasses have yet to be officially released, there are hundreds of augmented reality apps that you can get for your smartphone which work just as well. These apps can be used in everyday applications and even more so for educational purposes.
Richard
Two of the most interesting developments now emerging are wearable devices and augmented-reality applications. And if mobile computing has taught us anything, it's that the old consumer / enterprise technology divide is disappearing. If users buy a device that they can use for business, it stands to reason that they will use it for business. I tend to do that myself with anything that catches my fancy.
Jonathan
One of the most interesting, and dare I say, useful apps implementing augmented reality (AR), is one called star map. It enables you to look up at the night sky through your phone's camera and it will survey the constellations within the screen area and then identify them by name. I don't know how much it costs to download, but I can say that never again will you be at a loss of words on an outdoor date at night.
Patricia
The potential for this technology is undoubtedly endless, but what we've seen so far has mostly ranged from gimmicky and cute to somewhat useful. Nothing groundbreaking so far no mass adoption of wearable technology or any of the entertainment possibilities. However, it's just a matter of time when some of these implementations become part of our daily lives. If you hate how people are constantly distracted by their iPhones and Blackberry's, brace yourself, because it's about to get much worse.
Ronnie
Reaching beyond Google Glass, Atheer Labs is announcing a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo to bring 3D wearable computing to the masses. There are a lot of considerations to make with a wearable system, for example people cannot wear glasses that are more than 100 grams for longer than 20 minutes. The makers were able to get all of the functionality and immersive experience in 75 grams, and we're now putting it in the hands of the developers.
Ronnie
This was an interesting post I have seen apps like this before and thought it was a great idea now I know better as to why. Thank you so much for the work you put into this the only thing I noticed that might be a little confusing is the term AR because that is used for Accounts receivable as well. Just a thought however it might not be a problem at all.
Justin
These AR apps listed here all sound pretty nifty. I had no idea the extent to which companies have already gone to bring AR technology to the forefront. I can't imagine how much time and money they invested in concepts that, for all intents and purposes, are gambles. An AR app may become a hit, but at this early stage, most will only be curiosities for the average smartphone user.
Tony
My fear is that the use of AR in facial recognition technology, combined with geo-location and augmented data will lead to a seamless integration of our online and offline lives. As a result of these developments, a person walking around in the physical world will no longer just be a person, but will be their physical self along with a digital profile and other information that either the person itself or others make available online. Imagine walking into a social gathering and getting ignored by a bunch of people because you have self-identified yourself with a political or religious affiliation that they don't particularly care for. Or worse imagine being singled out for additional security screening at the airport because of it.
Richard
I keep reading about all these different companies, from well known brand names to obscure small to medium sized businesses. In almost every case, I am intrigued by how this AR tech is evolving, app by app. One concept breeds some off-shoot or improvement of the last one. This is how an industry is built. It's exciting to be learning at the infancy of this revolution. I want to get more involved.
Todd
A new AR marketing campaign hit the streets of London. I'm impressed by the simple, but great idea! A fizzy drink company had the right feeling for a good tech-supported ad: the "Unbelievable Bus Shelter. The concepts uses the window to the world approach to convert a bus stop billboard wall into a simple glass wall (obviously by means of camera). Now nothing crazy is going on and people see the real cars and people passing by in the "glass window...Words can't describe its brilliance. You have to see it.