Update:

Here is a video I watched the other day that went along with this perfectly

 

Augmented reality (AR) has been gaining popularity in technology circles for several years now.  Businesses are even using it to their advantages to enhance the customer experience.  When The Avengers was released on DVD, Wal-Mart introduced the AR experience to their customers and allowed them to search the store for specially marked locations to “unlock the super powers of the five remaining Avengers” using the Super Hero Augmented Reality App.  This kind of experience will be gaining momentum more and more throughout the years, but your business doesn’t have to wait to cash in.  The possibility to create this experience for your customers is available to all businesses right now.  You just need the right experts knowing what to do and where to go.

What is Augmented Reality

Augmented reality (AR) is a live, direct or indirect, view of a physical, real-world environment whose elements are augmented by computer-generated sensory input such as sound, video, graphics or GPS data.

Basically what this means is that it’s a way to show the user a different view of the world where they are, whether on a street or in a store, etc.  It is gaining popularity because of it’s ease of use and allowing the consumer to see exactly what the producer wants.  An example of how an augmented reality works would be as follows.  Let’s say you take a trip to Athens and you come upon a set of ruins where a beautiful structure once stood.  Archaeologists and historians could use computer technology to recreate that structure in its entirety.  When you are there looking at the location with the ruins you would pull out your smartphone and use a specific app along with the installed camera and the completed structure would be visible to you.

Why is Augmented Reality Useful for Businesses

Not every business has a need for an AR application, but those that cover a wide area, such as a local real estate company, or involve special locations throughout a city, such as Washington D.C., could start using this technology today.  This kind of application would allow the users to pinpoint different locations on a map and give access to its users to a wide variety of information.  Some of the most common businesses that have used AR technology are chamber’s of commerce, or even downtown associations.

It isn’t commonplace for businesses to be using AR at this point but the possibilities are there.  By getting started now you can jump ahead of the learning curve and when the technology becomes common in the market place, you will have already been building an incredible experience.  In fact, if done right, your business could be the trend setter for AR technology in your area.

If you’d like to see if an augmented reality would be right for your company, click here for a free digital analysis and consultation