Augmented Reality: the only limit is the imagination
Nowadays the borders between real and virtual, analog and digital as well as online and offline are blurry. This creates new chances and possibilities, which can not be missed by clever entrepreneurs. However, you do need a reliable partner who will be able to navigate you around problems and stumbling blocks. How well you already know this partner, you have the ideas and we will implement them effectively.
Taking a look at the streets of Germany, one can find 7,1 million active users in one single application with augmented reality. These are the active players of Pokemon GO in 2016. Since its first release on July 6,2016, a real hype has flared up around catching and fighting with the virtual fantasy creatures. The game has been developed by the US studio Niantic. The technology in the background of this game is the augmented reality development, which creates a technical extension of the reality perception.Today the game is probably one of the most successful AR games. But the technology is not only used in the area of gaming and entertainment. Expanded reality also offers great benefits and added value in business and industry.
Augmented Reality: Technical Definition & Requirements
Augmented Reality (AR) stands for extended reality and in the technical definition means the combination of virtual and real reality. Through 3D references, a real time interactivity between virtual and real is being created in the application. Real world, virtual world and humans find themselves in a context. Furthermore a connection between humans and device, or a virtual object, can be carried out in an interaction.
In order to use augmented reality applications, a newer smartphone is sufficient. The integrated camera performs the task of capturing real-world environments and scanning markers as a tracking device. The processor of the smartphones calculates the incoming and outgoing data and the AR application software controls the content and logic of the AR. The user sees the VR on the display of the smartphone. The GPS sensor in the device can furthermore be used for the position determination.
Augmented Reality Software in everyday life – appliance in various life and work areas
Vorab ein kleiner Exkurs in die Geschichte von AR:
Seit Wikitude im Jahr 2008 den ersten AR Browser auf den Markt brachte, eroberte die mobile Augmented Reality den Markt. Kurze Zeit später, im Jahr 2009 folgte Apple mit dem ersten AR fähigen Smartphone, dem IPhone 3Gs und auch Firmen wie metaio und Qualcomm wurden zu festen Software-Anbietern der virtuellen Technologie. Kein Wunder, denn virtuelle Darstellung und Sichtbarkeit ist nun mit AR auch ohne 3D Brille möglich oder kann mit Hilfe von Datenbrille und reality headset gesteuert werden.
Aber auch neue Dimensionen erfuhr die Gaming Szene 2015 in der Wahrnehmung. Mit Microsoft 10 und der Anwendersoftware Microsoft HoloLens sowie einer speziellen Augmented Reality Brille, die als transparente Displays fungiert. Im Gegensatz zu den Konkurrenten Samsung oder Oculus Rift werden keine Raster oder Hologramme zur Erzeugung der mixed reality verwendet. Lichtpunkte steuern bei HoloLens die Vision und lassen die Anwendung durch Gesten, Sprache und Bewegung steuern. Eingeführt wurde die Software für gaming Fans, die das Spiel Minecraft zu einem neuen visuellen Spielplatz machte.
Neben privaten Benutzer kommt die Technologie mit individuellen Softwarelösungen in vielen Bereichen des täglichen Alltags- und Arbeitslebens zum Einsatz.
First of all, a short excursion to the history of AR:
Since Wikitude launched the first AR browser in 2008, mobile Augmented Reality has conquered the market. Short time later, in the year 2009, Apple followed with the first smartphone capable of AR, the iPhone 3Gs and also companies such as metaio and qualcomm became established software suppliers of virtual technology. No wonder, because the virtual presentation and visibility is now possible with AR without 3D glasses or can be controlled with the help of data glasses and a reality headset.
But the gaming scene also took on new dimensions in 2015. With Microsoft 10 and the user software Microsoft HoloLens, as well as special augmented reality glasses, which function as transparent displays. Unlike the competitors Samsung or Oculus Rift, no patterns or holograms are used for the creation of mixed reality. At HoloLens, light points control the vision and let the application be controlled by gestures, speech and movement. The software was introduced for gaming fans, which turned the Minecraft game into a new visual playground.
In addition to private users, the technology is used with individual software solutions in many areas of everyday and working life.
Examples of VR applications in the working world:
- Architecture: Visualization of buildings, 3D viewers and configurations, floor plans and drawings, interior design, virtual inspections
- Handcraft: Repairs and installations with virtual support and specifications
- Industry: Visualization of product functions, process animation, object recognition, allocation of additional informations in project and work process
- Marketing / Advertising: Presentations and simulations with colour selection or video integration, combination with print/advertising materials with QR code for video virtual catalogues, customer information at the POS
Examples of VR applications in everyday life:
- Culture: City and museum tours, location information,
- School & Learning: e-learning on a PC, tablet or smartphone, digital information systems
- Computer supported navigation in cars or airplanes with many more dimensions than google maps
- Sport: e.g. fade-in of goal distance and offside line in football
- Games: Apps like Pokémon Go
Advantages & Benefits of Computer Truncated Reality
For AR applications:
- there are almost no limits to the application possibilities and design possibilities for the developer.
- only a mobile device with Internet access is required as hardware.
- a simple presentation is possible. VR can be displayed without additional hardware on displays of smartphones with iOS or Android operating systems, tablets or a Windows / Mac PC
- any work process, product or communication can be supported with individually tailored virtual support. In contrast to the accompanying video, the user immerses himself in his own product, brand or working world.
- Learn and training contents can be communicated much more efficiently. Learning with AR increases the learning curve immensely.
In the areas Marketing, Management and Commerce virtual reality technology can:
- Enable interaction with the user.
- Creating emotions and thus creating a bond between brand/product, application and customer.
- positively influence purchasing decisions.
- achieve a branding of the brand / product.
- Transport experiences
- Visually display and explain products and technology
- Combine multichannel, crossmedia and print
The path to your custom AR application with UWS
As Augmented Reality specialists we know how to surprise and inspire users with high-end virtual reality.
Your path with UWS to your own AR applications with structured project management:
- Analysis, location based & consulting: In a joint discussion we define your wishes, goals for the intended application and advise you extensively, for which scenarios the integration of AR technology into the existing systems is suitable in your specific case.
- Visualization & Design: Once we have defined the basics of the project in the specifications, we will convert your project into models. Depending on the later use and access of mobile devices, such as PC, iPad, or mobile phone or flat screen and the stationary PC, we check the compatibility between the systems and the display to ensure an optimal implementation. Only a perfect projection of the application onto the corresponding displays will later create a captivating virtual environment or a realistic process staging. Furthermore, we check if the integration and connection to existing operating systems, networks, cloud and work environments works smoothly.
- Optimization & Customizing: Once the frame conditions are set, we go over to the precision grind. The models are now extended to AR objects by our specialists with functions and animations. To enable the virtual objects to be displayed by the systems at a later time, it is important that each action to be executed by the app is provided with a corresponding marker. The alignment and scaling is then defined in the position of the markers.
- Programming: Once all elements have been marked and animated, our developers start with the programming of the extended reality with functions, features and interaction possibilities. From a call- or link-button, over a choice of colours, up to a video or 3D project.
- Testing & Documentation: After programming by the development team, the application is thoroughly tested and all project steps are meticulously documented in a detailed documentation. This makes it possible to quickly and easily expand the application at a later date, for example if components such as reality glasses or other devices are to be integrated into the application. Each individual step can be tracked in the documentation.
- Publishing: Now your AR application can be published or integrated into the existing systems.
- Hosting, Maintenance & Update: Whether app or integrated application: we take care of the hosting and maintenance of your software and perform automatic updates.