Here’s why you should know how to create AR apps

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Augmented Reality technologies, together with Virtual Reality and Mixed Reality apps, has a steady spike in use and profitability since 2016. According to Statista, its marginal market value is more than $6 Billion, and it’s expected it might reach the $210 Billion in sales (including hardware) by 2022.

What is AR?

Augmented reality is a technology that combines the real and the virtual world, through overlaying digital data over realistic analog views. It has vast possibilities for use and is generally easier to create AR apps than VR and MR. Anyone with a smartphone can use AR — all those Snapchat filters we use are using this technology.

Why did it become so popular?

AR makes it possible to create relevant content in a format that is engaging, helpful or just — entertaining. There are many good examples of using AR in marketing — such as Sephora’s Visual Artist that lets customers try out lipsticks and eyeshadows on a digital image, before deciding if it looks good on them and buying it; or Game of Thrones’ Facebook filter that turns you into the Night King used to promote a new season.

Another reason is that it’s much easier for people to imagine their physical environment, by combining digital and realistic elements. This is applicable in mapping, the real-estate business, architecture and similar.

And finally, companies using AR give their (potential) customers a different experience, whether they entertain to make it easier for them to visualize something. It is still new to many people, and as a naturally curious species, we people like to try out interesting and new things. A study found that people enjoy positive and interactive experiences.

What do you need to know to create an AR app?

AR is a combo of software development, computer vision, and 3D modeling.

Programming languages aren’t always the same, according to the platform that’s supposed to be used, but are usually C++ and C#.

If you want to learn the basics of Augmented Reality, and how to make a simple AR application from scratch, using AR Foundation, register for Laika’s free webinar.

Practical real-life applications of AR technologies

Healthcare

For medical students, or showing patients what’s happening to their body, AR can be very useful in healthcare. Apps can show all organs, bones, and muscles, and offer a high level of interaction without touching a real human body. One such example is Anatomy 4D.

Architecture, landscaping, and construction

3D renders are the standard for architects to show their projects to clients, so they can easily understand and picture how their place is going to look like. Imagine taking that to another level — with the use of a camera, the architectural plan can be ‘projected’ onto the real space. The same goes with landscaping and construction.

Tourism and maps

Everyone has an experience of not being able to understand a map, and many people have a hard time visualizing the space in their heads. That’s where maps with AR come in handy.

Also, museums can give more info about their exponents, restaurants can showcase menus and specialties, landmarks can be marked in maps and the history behind them can pop up on the map. So many uses…

E-commerce and retail

AR can completely redefine e-commerce. Many people are skeptical about buying clothes online, but AR can enable them to try them on. Ikea is a great example — they have an AR catalog, so before you decide to buy furniture online, you can see how it looks like in your apartment.

Marketing and advertising

There is much more than promotional filters and free AR tools developed by companies for marketing purposes.

The London-based startup BlippAr started implementing AR in ad banners. They engaged with several automotive brands in launching an AR ad campaign. Tapping on a mobile ad enables a user to observe the inside of a car; by allowing access to the smartphone camera, they can get a real-life windshield and window view of their surroundings. Since then, they have customers like Coca Cola, Nestle, and General Mills.

Education

If we can’t stop students from bringing their phones into school, maybe we can make them use it for good. Imagine being able to point your camera at a chemical element on the chart, and seeing their properties, structure, applications, and reactivity on your camera. Sounds better than reading and imagining it, right?

Entertainment and fun!

Why does it always have to be useful? Sometimes just fun is enough. Don’t try to deny it — we have all tried face-swapping and AR games.

There are many more uses of AR that we still haven’t tapped into. So it seems like a largely unexplored and vast field, even in 2019.

Augmented reality apps are more and more popular and accessible nowadays. Don’t be the last to learn how to make one — register for our free webinar ‘Intro to Augmented Reality & Unity AR Foundation’