XR Experience Evaluation #1

App: PokemonGo
Device: Iphone

PokemonGo is an AR game that uses your location while you try to catch Pokemon. The Pokemon appear in the users real life environment and allows you to interact with the virtual characters.

I think the main audience for this app is people who are fans of the franchise, Since it is a game that requires you to walk and explore I can see mainly teens using it because they have enough freedom where they can go out and walk around their town and they have more free time than adults.

The app is an example of augmented reality because it interacts with the users environment, it’s a handheld because you use it with your phone. It uses the GPS technology on your phone to help track your location, and it uses the camera on your phone and gyroscope.

The strengths of the app are the location accuracy and the social aspect of the game. I think the graphics can improve to make the experience more immersive.

SLAM Tracking

Pokemon Go doesn’t currently use SLAM, it’s characters aren’t really interacting with the user real environment which is why some people say the game isn’t truly augmented reality. Right now, the games characters are only accessed through GPS when you hit a specific coordinate. If the game were to use SLAM to create a mapping system and then place the characters in that map it would create a more realistic experience for the user.