Complete Guide for Custom Software Development using Augmented Reality

• By Arun Kumar
• 13-12-2022
• Virtual Reality

Augmented reality (AR) combines digital information with the user's environment in real time. It includes auditory, overlaying visual, or other sensory information in the real world to improve one's experience. Any leading enterprise software development company can use AR to promote services or products, launch novel marketing campaigns, and collect unique user data. To create AR products, an augmented reality development platform provides tools that superimpose computer-generated images into the real world. These AR software development tools allow developers to create, position, orient, and track virtual objects and their relationship to the real world. Therefore, AR is an interactive experience that merges the real world and computer-generated content.

History of Augmented Reality (AR)

As discussed above, Augmented Reality is an enhanced or modified form of reality where superimposed content gets added to the user's real world. Those Snapchat and Instagram filters? Yes, they are developed with the help of Augmented Reality. Pokemon Go is a game and is a popular example of AR. Later, Snapchat added the geofilter feature that allows users to add graphics showcasing geographic locations to their photos. Million people daily used Snapchat and AR is now become so popular that multiple social networks, businesses, and retailers use this technology.

Over the next several decades, betterment in AR led to helpful aviation, military, and industrial simulation tools, but the technology did not acquire a national audience until the late 1990s. Since then, AR has grown at a rapid pace and it is being used for both individual and commercial purposes. AR was welcomed by many companies like Disney, Coca-Cola, and National Geographic to run campaigns at large events and in public spaces such as shopping malls and Times Square. Wearable AR devices make it easy to get digital information simply by nodding your head.

Let’s discuss the Benefits of Custom Software Development using AR

Real-Time Analytics

Real-time data analytics gives organizations actionable information for decision-making, security, and monitoring operations. Companies reported an 80% increase in profit due to data analytics. AR can help to integrate real-time analytics on-site for employees and operators. It authorizes operators to monitor system performance in real time and make adjustments to improve efficiency. It creates a visual representation of data with insights that allow an organization to improve processes on-site.

AR app development company can help to integrate vital processes into a data analytics system for visual representations. Aligning goals with a data analytics system is also critical for in-depth analysis.

Creates Unique Customer Experiences

The biggest benefit of AR is that it designs unique digital experiences that blend the best of the digital and physical worlds. It does not require any special hardware or software to savour the experience. Mainstream mobile apps and smartphones are sufficient to experience AR. The latest developments in AR have even made it possible to experience immersive experiences via web browsers.

Boosts User Engagement

When it became popular, AR was primarily labelled as a technology for entertainment and gaming. However, with time it has been developed into several other use cases that can give solid business gains. Increased user engagement is one such gain. User engagement is like the gateway to several other advantages. The challenge is serving the right material at the right time to use and make them engage. AR can be used to boost user engagement in many ways, such as scannable product labels, interactive ads, and catalogues. The creativity of technology is connected with its ability to deliver information quickly to make it engaging for users.

Types of Augmented Reality

Marker-Based AR

These applications use a particular ‘marker’ like a QR code or other image. 3D content in the app is put in the world relative to, or on top of the marker. An older example of marker-based AR is the PlayStation 3 Wonderbook. A ‘peripheral’ game that allows players to view a spell book on their screen. The book rotates and moves when they pick up the gadget and move it around. The camera uses the designs on the actual book as a reference to display the AR content, a technology that is often used today on Instagram and Snapchat.

Markerless AR

Instead of using set designs or codes to trigger the content, markerless AR uses a camera to detect environment practices as well as motion sensors to detect surfaces and place 3D objects. This involves several different technologies working together, like:

• Digital compass
• Gyroscope and Accelerometer
• Depth sensors
• GPS and other location tools
• Camera

The latest gadgets are equipped with depth-sensing hardware ( ToF, LiDAR) to improve accuracy. So markerless AR is not only powered by depth sensors and other positioning data but also by the ML algorithm on top of this data. This allows for a more exact rendering of 3D content and powers the illusion that digital objects are part of the real world. Apps like Pokemon Go use markerless AR.

Location-Based AR

AR applications can use that data to accurately display the virtual content when users enter a particular location. This is how location-based AR performs. Instead of just displaying an object in relative space, developers can show objects in geographical space for users to monitor and interact with.

Technology-wise, location-based AR depends on GPS, an accelerometer, and a digital compass. Moreover, there are several approaches to narrow-down the position of the gadget:

• VPS (Visual Positioning System)
• UWB (Ultra-WideBand)
• Low-range Wi-Fi Direct
• BLE (Bluetooth low energy) beacons

Superimposition AR

This type of AR includes digitally replacing an object or superimposing the virtual object on top of another. For example, an app that can digitally change the colour of your sofa could be considered superimposition AR. This approach is useful for cause-and-effect demonstrations. For example, a user could point a camera at some areas of their city to see what it looked like five years ago from an archive of Google Maps.

Conclusion

Due to the expanded growth of AR technology, it has become important to understand that the coming market will be full of consumers requesting augmented reality in their application, requesting a seamless UI or UX. By developing AR apps intuitive and simple, it can improve the chances of success in this flourishing market. Businesses with the proper development capabilities and content ideas should consider how AR can help us, to improve business operations and their customer's experience.