Reality of an augmented future

Augmented reality (AR) software has been around for quite some time, but it wasn't until the success of Pokemon Go that it really hit mainstream attention. Now everyone is looking at ways to incorporate AR into new applications across a wide range of industries. And there are compelling reasons for this.

AR technology provides a software application advantages that were just not possible in the past and in many applications it add huge value. Here are some basics of AR from the perspectives of software product owner which we advise our customers so that they consider incorporating AR into their applications.

Why add augmented reality to your app?

The user experience offered by AR is intuitive and easy to use, which makes it appealing to a wide variety of businesses. The UI elements appear within a particular context and help the user understand how to interact with it. There are some distinct advantages that AR offers, let me try going over some with examples to illustrate my point.

With AR you get a chance to leverage real-time data to enhance your software's functionality such as tracking a user's location and displaying information about nearby store locations. You get to combine visuals with expanded sources of information, which is a powerful combination for a wide range of use cases. 

Since AR is essentially a layer over what is right in front of you, it is an opportunity to mix the online virtual experiences with the real physical. Retail stores can give in-store customers quick and easy access to the same information they could look up online. For example, they can point their camera at a product and get a full description, reviews, a usage guide and more. 

The healthcare industry uses AR in many ways, such as a solution that visualizes veins for nurses. Patients are much happier when they don't have to get stuck with several needles for a blood draw or IV.

The transportation industry guides drivers into fixing and maintaining their own vehicles by providing guided instruction that walks the user through the entire process. They can stay on top of straightforward tasks, so the only time they need to be serviced is for more complex cases. 

Widespread AR adoption is still in its early stages, so many organizations are experimenting with ways to work augmented reality into their software. These initial offerings have many exciting features with the potential to change many industries. 

Your future software development projects should consider whether AR has a place in the application you're working on. In many cases, you get a big boost to the user experience and unique features that set you apart from the competition.