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Augmented Reality (AR) is no longer a game-specific immersive technology.
It has penetrated mobile games and apps of all niches as crucial value addition and is determining the core user experience of the apps.
From retail and eCommerce to eLearning apps to travel and map navigation to enterprise training to healthcare, AR apps are now popular for all business niches.
As an ambitious mobile app developer, you want to produce unique, instantly engaging, and addictive apps that users find cannot live without, AR apps are likely to be your best bet.
What kind of apps can you build with AR technology and how to go about AR app development?
Whether you are outsourcing app development for your AR project or not, it is important to know
Knowing these aspects is important. Before explaining them let us provide the basics of augmented reality.
What is Augmented Reality?
Augmented reality can be defined as the digitally extended or altered form of reality created by facilitating the interaction of the digital content and the real-world perception of the objects.
Basically, augmented reality superimposes the digital content on the real-world views of the users. AR should also have the following attributes.
- The seamless interaction and mixing of digital reality and the real world.
- Immersive interactions combine physical and digital objects in real-time.
- Incorporating 3D visuals of real objects into the digital presentation.
Different types of augmented reality
Based upon how AR is implemented and how AR makes an impact, there are basically three types of AR technology. For your augmented reality app development project, knowing these differences is crucial.
Marker-based AR
This type of AR basically superimposes the virtual 3D object over the real-world environment. Social media filters that can be added to the images or the visual effects instantly delivered to tweak an actual photograph can be a nice example of this type of AR.
Markerless AR
Markerless AR without requiring the camera or image sensor can superimpose virtual 3D objects on the real-life environment just by utilising the data corresponding to the features of real-life objects. The 3D map created for easier navigation in real-time is an example of this type of AR.
Location-based AR
This type of AR basically augments the digital reality based upon the real-life location of the user. For example, based upon your location in a city the AR travel app can guide you about navigating to the nearest interesting sites, restaurants, parking places, etc.
Projection-based AR
This type of AR basically renders a virtual 3D object out in the real-world environment. Suppose you see a giant 3D globe placed in a science museum that can interact with the user commands with the connected app, is actually an AR-based virtual object.
Types of AR app niches at your disposal
Augmented Reality (AR) can be used for app projects of a variety of niches. Here we are going to explain some of these popular AR app niches.
Gaming apps
Right from the beginning of AR technology, gaming apps like the famous Minecraft game or escape room games have been at the very forefront. Today, there are more AR gaming apps across Google Play and Apple App Store than any other niches. The core promise of AR technology is to blur the difference between life’s reality and digital reality in our screen and this core promise was best realised by some of the leading AR app projects. Pokémon Go, the AR gaming app that achieved phenomenal popularity, allowed game players to find Pokémon’s by navigating in a real-world environment.
Retail store apps
AR technology has been incorporated into the retail business apps to revolutionise the shopping experience in a never-before manner. AR offered practical help to retail shoppers with on-screen navigation help to find the in-store products and get product details by scanning the products with a device camera. The best way AR was introduced in elevating the shopping experience is numerous. Now customers can take the image of fashion wear and experience a virtual trial right on their screen.
E-commerce apps
Augmented Reality apps are particularly shown high effectiveness in online stores. Thanks to the AR-based shopping experience the difference between shopping in person and purchasing online could be reduced to a great extent. For example, while purchasing furniture or room furnishings an AR-based app can allow you to upload the photo of the actual room for which you are purchasing the items. Once the room photo is uploaded, the app will automatically place furniture and furnishings within the image so that you can evaluate the look and feel of the room and the places the new furniture pieces are going to take. Graphic design apps also come in handy here.
eLearning app
Another crucial app niche where Augmented Reality has made great inroads in the eLearning app niche including math apps for example. With the AR-based eLearning apps, bringing the real-life environment and context within the digital learning interface has become easier than ever before. A student of botanical science now simply can go around a nature park, use a phone camera to scan leaves of various trees and the app will instantly tell the name and details about the plant.
Travel app
The travel experience of the smartphone flaunting millennial travellers happen to be more digitally empowered simply because of the AR and VR travel experience. AR has particularly played a great role in fusing real-life environments with digital reality. Now an AR-based museum tour guide will not only help the tourists navigate better within the premise to find the exhibits of his interest more easily, but it can provide an audio guide to explain the details of exhibits based on where you are located and what exhibit you are facing. An app can also help to relax and be mindful while on a holiday.
Enterprise app
In recent years, many business organisations have found the effective role AR features can play for apps for remote employee management, on-site training, store management, inventory control, and supply chain management. The organisations that need to handle a lot of either field marketing personnel or on-site training staff, can simply provide remote guidance, and impart instructions based upon the real-time contexts or problems employees are facing. As soon as the vigilant camera is detecting a staff member facing an issue with a customer, it can send a notification to the store manager to look after the matter.
Conclusion
So, the scope of AR app development is huge, provided you have a solid grasp on using the technology for achieving a great user experience. For a successful AR app, you need to ensure creative twists instead of just delivering the same old basic stuff.