With the rise of human demands in terms of ultra-modern technologies, our experts and researchers together have come forward with several innovations that are destined to make human lives easier than before. Cutting-edge technologies have almost taken over the world and in the future will replace advanced with super-advanced ones.
With the continuous evolution of technology at a fast pace, several technologies such as virtual reality, augmented reality, machine learning, IoT, AI, etc., are connecting the gap between the physical and digital world and expanding the digital sphere.
Amongst these technologies, augmented reality has become a new way to connect the world between humans and machines by bridging the gap between real and virtual. AR is among the most advanced technologies in the world that has witnessed a substantial rise in the mobile app development sector.
Although AR might seem like a fantasy for many people, humans are catching up with this dream-like technology pretty quickly than imagined. AR has come a long way since its launch in 1990 by Tom Caudell, and today, more businesses are willing to reap the benefits of this ultra-modern tech.
Today, several businesses, including mobile app development companies, are on the drive to use AR tech in the mobile app development process. Combining AR with mobile apps does sound cool, and AR-enabled mobile apps will perform exceptionally well compared to those devoid of this tech.
Combining visuals, sounds, and improved interactivity is revamping the way users engage with their environment and acquire information.
AR has been well-known to serve the entertainment sector, but it is expanding in many sectors, including healthcare, eCommerce, education, architecture, interior, and much more. As per sources, the AR market value is expected to hit around $136.55 billion by 2025, rising at a CAGR of 56.32% from 2017-2025.
Topics To Cover
- Introduction To Augmented Reality (AR)
- Different Types of AR
- Steps To Incorporate AR Into Your Business
- How AR-based Mobile Apps are Transforming Several Industries
- Popular AR App Examples To Look At
- Final Words
Introduction To Augmented Reality (AR)
Augmented reality is a technology that uses the real-world environment and puts computer-generated visual images on top of it to enrich your experience.
In simple terms, "Augmented reality (AR) is the real-time use of information in the form of text, graphics, audio, and other virtual enhancements integrated with real-world objects," as per Gartner.
AR is still in its developing stage, yet getting a lot of traction and helping software companies enhance customer service in new ways.
AR and VR are not new now, as gaming experts and creatives have been using this tech for several years. But, it's recently that they have entered the world of mobile apps and websites. AR and VR are closely related but not alike, while AR combines virtual elements with the real world, whereas VR is an immersive experience that completely takes you to the virtual world.
Tech giants like Microsoft, Apple, and Google have already identified Augmented Reality as one of the most optimistic technologies that will prove valuable for upcoming times. Therefore, they are jointly developing solutions that will render developers a way to create new AR-based apps.
With the launch of smartphones, AR will lead to further innovation in the mobile app development sector. It is speculated that AR will evolve how we communicate, learn, and engage with the physical world.
Different Types Of AR
According to sources, there will be approximately 3.5 billion AR users by 2022, and around 83.1 million individuals are projected to use AR at least once a month.
Several types of AR are in use today by our mobile app experts. Let's go into each type one at a time.
1. Location AR
Location AR is one of the primary types of AR. It uses computer-generated images into a physical world environment based on the AR object's position in the real-life setting, such as its altitude, latitude, and longitude.
Location AR-type uses mobile GPS to navigate you and create AR objects.
Suppose you are traveling, mobile apps created with this type of AR tech can be used as maps, and based on your current location, it can prepare fascinating places to visit.
The perfect example is Pokemon Go, which is created based on location AR. AR tech brings our cute little Pokemon into our world via mobile phone.
2. Recognition AR
This type of AR focuses on object recognition and renders more information about the object. For instance, when you scan a QR code or barcode using your smartphone, you are using object recognition tech. Mostly all other types of AR except location AR use a recognition system to detect the object, which has to be augmented.
Moreover, when your words are interpreted in your chosen language via the smartphone camera, AR is another type of recognition. Recognition AR uses image recognition to detect patterns or photo makers. As the app identifies the object or the photo, its info will be available in a matter of moments.
3. Projection AR
This is one of the simplest AR types, where AR displays virtual images, light, and objects on the outside. A light is shown on the surface, and interaction takes place by touching the projected exterior with a hand.
Compared to those apps downloaded on your device, this type of AR feels more attractive as this type of AR uses projection onto objects. This tech offers so much more and is super efficient in many sectors, specifically in healthcare and education.
4. Superimposition AR
This type of AR means the overlaying of the objects. This AR-type identifies the object in the physical world and improves the view partly or entirely with the object's augmented view.
For instance, doctors use this tech to monitor the patient from multiple angles in real-time. This tech can be used to superimpose an X-ray view of an individual's broken rib on a physical image to get a clear understanding of the bone's real damage. Moreover, this type of tech can be helpful in the education sector to study bone structure.
We have covered all the AR types here, and as you can see, AR will continue to apply in our everyday lives to improve our virtual experiences in the physical world. So adopt the tech in your business to reach milestones with the help of Hyperlink InfoSystem - a top mobile app development company.
Steps To Incorporate AR Into Your Business
AR is still new, and companies can grab more attention to their products and services to incorporate AR into their business setting.
Detailed Market Research
Instead of following others, research profoundly into your industry market, and list your needs accordingly to use the AR tech. You should definitely get to know AR in detail and know how your nemesis uses this tech before you invest your resources. You must understand what this advanced technology can do and how you can add more value to your business.
Know Your Business Challenges
Before you get into using this cutting-edge tech, determine the limitations of your business processes. Hence, you must look into the various aspects of your business and collaborate with your internal teams to understand what difficulties are causing bottlenecks and different ways to remove them through AR tech.
Outsource An AR Mobile App Development Expert
After conducting market research and understanding your internal business challenges, you must choose the right AR development company to formulate an AR app according to your business setting.
Hyperlink InfoSystem has immense experience in the mobile app field for over 10 years now and is proficient with the inside outs of building an AR app that serves your business needs and delivers a phenomenal user experience.
Moreover, suppose you are doubtful of how to implement your idea in reality. In that case, our expert team members can provide you with the best guidance concerning the top AR features you should incorporate in your app and even give you the cost estimates for the same.
Now you must have known how AR is becoming prevalent in businesses, so let's give you a brief of how AR-based mobile apps are revolutionizing several industries and customer experience these days.
1. Automobile Industry
With AR taking over several industries, how can the automobile sector be left behind? So how does AR be helpful in the automobile sector?
AR tech is used in many automobile industry mobile apps. Particularly those apps designed for repairs and maintenance. Audi, the most popular and luxury car company, has equipped its mobile app with the AR feature. This app is created to offer the users manual information by focusing the app on a specific car part.
Let's get into detail.
If you want to use a particular lever on your car's dashboard, but you don't know how this app can open and position the app on that specific part, you will receive the complete information on the lever.
Isn't this super cool?
2. Real Estate Industry
This is another segment reaping the maximum benefit of AR in mobile apps. Real estate agents and realtors use AR apps in architecture and construction to facilitate their users viewing property's 3D pictures, engaging with it, and fulfilling their expectations. The products in the app can be positioned from one place to another to see how the home would look like.
Real estate mobile apps enable the agents to stage virtual home visits for their clients. All they gotta do is create a video, click photos of the property and amplify it with visual elements, including interiors, wallpapers, and decor.
Besides, the app can also streamline the process of measuring the property size in real-time. All this together will help the client make a wise decision as early as possible in lesser time and without compromises.
For example, Curate and IKEA are the top examples of AR integration into their mobile apps.
3. Healthcare Sector
AR is transforming the healthcare and medical studies field, as it allows the healthcare employee to perform procedures through visualizations. This tech offers an AR setting for medical students, healthcare experts, and surgeons to perform digital processes through AR to enhance patients' surgery quality and safety when conducted in real-time.
Moreover, it would come as a surprise how AR is also used in therapies for curing height phobia, water phobia, and stage fear. To name a few branches of healthcare, AR adoptions are Home-based AR for rehab, AR HMD for surgery, and AR for minimally invasive surgery (MIS).
4. E-commerce Sector
This doesn't come as a surprise looking at the N number of advances made in the eCommerce industry. So, how does AR pave its path in the eCommerce industry?
AR has succeeded in embedding itself in the eCommerce and retail sector. A few examples include virtual trials in fashion stores such as H&M. Moreover, Ray-Ban and Lenskart use AR to offer users trying on goggles virtually before buying. Now that is truly helpful for those who want to purchase sunglasses online.
5. Marketing Industry
AR-based mobile apps allow businesses to gain a competitive advantage over their nemesis to capture more customers while retaining the current ones.
AR has reformed how businesses showcase products and showrooms using mobile app marketing. AR has become a great marketing tool that allows users to digitally view how the products will look or work in a real-life environment before purchasing them. This makes them more confident and assures them about their buying decision with high satisfaction.
In simple words, the experience removes any doubt a buyer might have of their choice and reduces the sales time.
Now, you know how AR serves as a great advertising and marketing tool to enhance customer engagement levels. The sort of ads you showcase will offer users an interactive user experience that will compel them to buy your product.
6. Education Sector
As per sources, it is anticipated that the education sector will gain a massive advantage from AR tech. AR-based mobile apps can make education more innovative and effective via creative virtual learning experiences.
How does AR fit in this sector?
Professionals use animations, visual graphics in real-time while teaching their students to create an ambiance of fun learning. Moreover, the AR app development in the education & training industry provides students or trainees firsthand learning experiences in simulative environments.
A few effective AR apps for learners include Google Expeditions, Catchy Words AR, Human Anatomy Atlas, and many more.
7. Social Media Sector
Instagram, Snapchat, Pokemon Go are a few apps that are already leveraging AR. This tech allows users to present their updates with attractive AR filters and provides brands a chance to offer their users a memorable and immersive experience to their target audience in the form of AR-based stories, ads, games, and videos.
With the increasing number of screen time and engagement in mobile apps, businesses can develop an exclusive social media app using AR tech to promise user engagement and ROI.
Looking above, we can say that AR-based mobile apps are indeed impacting the scope of several industries positively and will further improve. Let's look at a few AR apps that are doing exceptionally well in delivering incredible user experience.
Popular AR App Examples To Look At
1. Sephora
Sephora, one of the most popular beauty and cosmetics brands, has launched a new AR app aimed to help users test their products without being present at the physical store.
The virtual artist in the app uses face recognition tech that allows users to upload their pictures and try tons of shades for lip color, eyelashes, and eyeshadows. The app scans your face, detects your lips, cheeks, and eyes for product placement to allow you to try on the product virtually. If the users like their look, they can simply buy the products through the app. Moreover, the app also allows users to take makeup tutorials.
2. Amazon
Amazon collaborated with L'Oreal to bring AR tech for the shoppers interested in beauty products. This new feature present in Amazon's shopping app enables users to see which lipstick color suits them.
The users have to click a picture or video of themselves with their mobile camera or upload one for using this app. They can pick a range of different lip shades to try on. You can also choose a model who matches your skin tone to try the makeup on her and see what it looks like.
3. Nike
Nike introduced a new AR feature in its app called Nike Fit. This feature enabled the users to discover their true shoe size. To activate the app's feature, users' must position their smartphone camera at their feet, and the app will measure their shoe size. Imagine all of this can be done at home in a few seconds.
After the user's shoe size is measured, it is stored in the app for future use. If a buyer shops in-store, all the sales guy has to do is scan a barcode in the app, and they can restore the individual's shoe size.
4. IKEA
A famous furniture company IKEA has used AR in its mobile app called IKEA Place that will help users easily envision how various furniture designs would look in the corner of their house. App users can scan their floor plan with their smartphone and then choose furniture designs and drag and drop it at any spot they like using their smartphone. Moreover, the app also suggests you find a suitable spot for your furniture. This was one of the first apps to be launched using Apple's AR tech.
5. Snapchat
The app's self-destructing messages have been a super hit among users. However, this social media app also includes AR elements in various live transformations, special effects, and filters to include in your Snapchat video message to send your buddies. For example, the right lens can change you into an animal, swap your face with someone else, or make you look cute or funny.
6. Google Translate
This app is a useful audio and text translation platform, and it enhances the user experience with AR real-time virtual translation features. To use this, you must point the smartphone camera to the text, and Google Translate will offer real-time translation of phrases from multiple languages.
Final Words
The digital sector is burgeoning, especially with the pandemic; the market is evolving swiftly. This calls for you to embrace advanced technologies to meet the current consumer needs.
Immerse yourself in the digital world to offer your users incredible AR experiences. You can ace the mobile app development services by providing your users an experience like never before at their home's comfort.
If you seek top-notch and reliable app development services, contact us for your AR, VR, and MR mobile app requirements to upscale your services.