Augmented reality is the process of taking the real word environment and using technology to overlay that with digital augmentation. Unlike virtual reality Perth, which is fully immersive, AR is grounded in the real world, offering unique experiences through your phone, tablet, glasses or a headset.
AR look set to become a big part of business in Perth over the coming years. It is already being used for tourism purposes, such as the Activated Artwalk project, and augmented reality AR has various potential applications across businesses in the city. From helping construction firms collaborate effectively with architects and stakeholders in Crawley to allowing real estate agents to create immersive viewings in Highgate. But how can AR be used in business? Below we outline some of its possible uses through technology that most of us already have to hand, plus a few examples of successful AR apps already in operation.
Mobile Apps
Our team can help create IOS and Android AR apps for mobile devices. Perfect if you have a vested audience and wanting an ongoing multi-use application for your customers. We’ll take care of everything from UX design, development, and content creation to App Store and Google Play submissions.
Web AR
It’s now possible to have AR experiences directly through the devices browser, no app download required. Perfect if you are looking at a single use AR experience such as a product packaging activation. All you need to do is push your customer to the URL through your POS or QR code and your products can come alive in seconds!
Social AR
Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat now have extensive AR functionality built into their cameras. The MASSIVE advantage of this is most people already have one or more of these apps installed on their devices and you tap into the native sharing functionality of these apps to spread your promotion to a much wider audience.
Headset AR
An AR headset provides the most immersive high-end AR experience possible. Using only hand gestures the user can navigate their way through your AR experience. A fantastic tool for staff training, a workforce out in the field and for trade shows, visitor experiences and demonstrations.
Perth Augmented Reality. Get in touch discuss ideas of how you can build Augmented Reality (AR) into your sales & marketing plans and reach potential customers in a completely new way.
What can AR be used for?
From gaming to construction, there is a plethora of real world uses for augmented reality. In terms of interior design and decoration, the Dulux Visualiser app lets you try out paint shades for your home to see if the colour works before you spend any money on paint. The IKEA Place app allows you to see if furniture will fit in a space, this prevents the experience where you buy something, get the box home and assemble it only to find it does not work in your home.
There are applications for cosmetic companies too. Sephora uses augmented reality to allow customers to try out different kinds of make up using a digital AR rendering. Rolex has created a virtual experience to see which style and model of watch suits you best.
In Perth, augmented reality is being used to generate tourism with the Art Walk project. Visitors can simply use their smartphone to experience the convergence of art, animation and AR walking from the Forrest Place iCity Kiosk, down Hay Street and to the Matagarup Bridge in the east of the city. It’s a great example of how augmented reality experiences can be used in Western Australia to attract visitors.
But it’s not just sales and tourism where AR can help. It is also making waves in the construction and real estate industry. In the project planning stage, augmented reality makes it possible to for clients to get a realistic impression of how the finished project will look. Just hold up your phone or tablet and you could see the completed EQ West or Kings Square before construction begins.
AR also allows firms to better asses the physical properties of an area to generate more accurate structures. AR will let engineers and architects quickly identify any inconsistencies in the plans in order to make modifications before building begins. This can reduce project timespan and bring down labour costs.
There are various uses on site too, including being able to locate where pipes, walls, outlets, switches and ventilation needs to run or be accessed. Imagine a contractor on a Dalkeith building site being able to use a tablet to see the exact location of all drill holes as specified in the plans. Or use the app to measure the progress of a Rossmoyne build according to the schedule.
A recent AR Hololens project we worked on…
Real use cases for augmented reality
AR for Retail & Commerce
Use a smartphone to allow customers to 'virtually' try an item before buying in their existing surroundings and then connect directly to your online shop to purchase instantly.
AR for Industry & Manufacturing
Improve safety, improve service manuals & instructions, service inspections & verification, operator & assembly work instructions, remote expert guidance and more...
AR for Training & Education
Using AR to educate & train employees or students at any level of education provides an immersive, multi-sensory experience to compliment traditional methods.
AR for Navigation & Way-finding
With the help of internal location beacons AR Smartphone apps can help with way-finding through complex and large spaces with triggered advertising displayed en-route.
AR for Medical & Healthcare
AR apps can deliver real-time information to the treatment area to support diagnosis, surgery and treatment plans plus aid remote training of staff.
AR for the Gaming Industry
Everyone needs a break right? AR games are leading the way in pushing AR technology just as VR has advanced due to the gaming industry growth.
AR for Real Estate & Property
AR apps can act as a virtual guide showcasing a property and informing the future tenant or owner of the highlights and selling points of the space.
AR for Travel & Tourism
AR teleportation apps can literally open a door to anywhere in the world allowing a customer to walk through and experience a new destination.
Do you need an app for AR?
Augmented reality is making big waves in the world of business, with developers rushing to make digital apps that allow businesses to overlay their products and ideas virtually onto the real world. An app is a great way of doing this but is not necessarily the only way of harnessing AR.
The cost of creating a new AR app can be high and the market is in danger of being saturated by apps offering similar augmented experiences. The life span of an app cam be short and which negatively affects ROI. Web-based AR is a genuine alternative but if an app is developed well, it can still be an effective and long term marketing tool.
How much does an AR app cost?
When it comes to the cost of a new AR app, there are no definitive numbers, just estimates. That’s because the costs will vary hugely depending on the scale and scope of the app required. It can range from $5,000 to $10,000 for a simple AR demo app using basic phone technology taking around 150 hours of development. Or it would cost $300,000 (or more) for a feature rich custom made app that takes months and thousands of hours work to develop.
The three main factors that determine cost are the scope of the work involved, the timeline in terms of when the app needs to be finished and the rates charged by the developers.
If you would like to find out more about the costs of an AR app for your business, contact our team here at 3D Walkabout, we can also help with Perth virtual reality projects, 3D modelling and more.