Augmented Reality — find inspiration to provide your audience with better UX

From retail to tourism, games, and educational apps, the number of players incorporating AR into their projects is rapidly growing. This is due to the increasing ease of creating AR-based functionalities. The release of various software development kits, like ARKit(Apple) and ARCore(Google), has been instrumental in driving the AR trend forward.

At the same time, users become more familiar with this technology and appreciate the experience provided by different actors on the market. According to Statista, 2.4 billion users will be using Augmented Reality in 2023, compared to 1.96 billion users in 2021. In this article, I will show some examples of how enterprises use this technology and provide new ideas and concepts that will inspire you to dig deeper into the AR world.

Definition

AR experiences are engaging and can leave a long-lasting impression. Many of us have seen an augmented reality app. But what is exactly the definition? According to the Nielsen Norman group, “Augmented reality (AR) refers to technology that incorporates real-time inputs from the existing world to create an output that combines real-world data and some programmed, interactive elements that operate on those real-world inputs.”

A new way of interacting with devices

Our experiences are no longer limited to the screen of our device — we can interact with reality everywhere! We can manipulate 3D volumetrics, videos, and static or animated objects, interact with them, and place them in the real-world context in real-time.

To design an AR experience for our app, we have to consider that users will use their whole bodies to interact with it. They can use it sitting, standing, or driving, holding the screen still, shaking it, or moving it around. They can use it at different times of the day, in the morning, the evening, or at night, in their homes or in public spaces. For example, in a retail AR app, a user might be able to virtually try on clothes by standing in front of a mirror and seeing the clothes superimposed on their reflection. This kind of interaction is what makes AR experiences unique and engaging.

The various possibilities of interactions in AR allow us to create experiences that are truly unique and memorable:

Thanks to Snapchat filters we can add an original content for our photos

We can pinch and rotate the object decorating our house with the IKEA Place app.

Sephora Visual Artist App lets you try on and compare different looks before purchasing. You can also shake your phone to get new looks and share them with friends!

Using Just a Line, we can add our proper content in the form of lines drawn on a device screen.

Another important fact to consider is that AR can be marker-based, location-based, or markerless.

Marker-based AR can identify an object and apply an overlay to it.

Inkhunter is an example of Marker-based AR. We can visualize the final effect by marking a place destined for a tattoo and hovering over it with a device.

Location-based applications use GPS, accelerometers, and digital compasses to identify the user’s location and apply relevant content based on that location.

Pokemon GO is an excellent example of a location-based AR

There is also a Markerless AR. That means they can work on any type of background without any trigger, like a specific object or location.

With AR Portal for Real Estate Marketing, you can visit an apartment from any place.

Examples

Try on

If you are selling a physical product, such as furniture and decorations, clothes and accessories, electronics, or cars, you can consider a so-called try-on app. Thanks to this experience, your clients will be more confident when purchasing.

The Makeup Genius app by L’Oreal lets you scan a barcode and see how the makeup will look on you.

We can tap on our walls, changing their color with the Dulux Visualizer App.

Thanks to the Envision TV AR App, you can choose the right size TV for your house.

Use of the AR in your acquisition process

You can make great use of AR by implementing it in your acquisition process. For example, you can create your own filters on Instagram and place the elements to interact with on your product. Additionally, you can encourage your audience to share their experiences on social media. There is a big chance that they will boast about their participation in a unique event or interesting functionality based on AR.

Timberlad used AR for its publicity campaign. Users could try on the new outfits without even entering the shop!

We can have fun during our stopover thanks to the Icelandair campaign at the Schiphol Airport.

National Geographic created an event in a shopping mall that aroused considerable interest.

Creating engaging content for your users

Creating a unique experience using AR technology can attract your audience’s attention and significantly enrich the content.

When you hover over the cover of The New Yorker with your device, you can see it’s animated.

Thanks to time, we can visualize the scene of landing on the moon from our home.

The Patrón Experience: The Augmented Reality App engages the users, leaving long-lasting memories of the brand by proposing a virtual tour around the place where their tequila is produced

Engaging content can also be placed on your product, like, in this case, the etiquette of wine(19 Crimes Wine)

Conclusion

Only a few players on the market use AR. It is an easy way to differentiate yourself from the competition and present your business as innovative.

These are just a few examples of how your project can benefit from incorporating AR. By adding an interactive layer to your products or services, you can enhance the user experience and differentiate yourself from the competition. AR also has the potential to increase customer engagement and drive sales. I hope that I encouraged you to explore this universe further. This technology blended with your creativity can be a real booster for your activity, helping you to create unique and memorable experiences for your users.