Augmented Reality (AR) apps are growing in popularity as mobile devices become more powerful and affordable. By combining data overlays with the real-world environment, the possibilities for development are seemingly endless. Companies are taking notice and finding ways of creating new and notable apps that provide high-quality content with unique user experiences. The results are changing how apps are developed and we will see a lot more of this in the future. In this article, we discuss how AR apps are the future of mobile app design.
Data Presentation
Perhaps the one thing that AR apps do the best is data presentations. The methods that your app uses to present data make a big difference in the user experience (UX) and user interface (UI). Most data is presented as text or illustrations in a 2D plane. While this is effective in many situations, it can be done more effectively. 3D modeling against a real-world backdrop makes a considerable difference in how people perceive content.
AR apps take advantage of the 3D effects that you can create in a 2D plane (like your phone screen) to present data in more effective ways. For example, digital overlays can be effective at helping people navigate through an area. Using the camera as a backdrop, applying digital overlays to guide people through that area in 3D is far more effective than just providing basic data through text.
Shopping At Home
Shopping is moving online and AR may make it even easier when deployed correctly. Since AR apps can combine real-world images with digital concepts, your company can use it to introduce products to customers before they buy. One of the biggest reservations that customers have when it comes to online shopping is being able to see products in their homes before they purchase. You can do this with AR apps.
Many large item sellers are taking advantage of this by putting 3D pictures of all of their products into AR apps. Then, customers can use the app to place products in their homes and arrange them properly to see what they will look like. This process saves furniture companies a lot of time and money transporting and returning furniture that customers don’t keep. Other types of companies are trying this as well with positive results. It lets them overcome objections to online shopping while helping customers prequalify purchases. Ultimately, it is a better experience for everyone involved.
Interactive Entertainment
In recent years, AR apps have become an increasingly important staple in mobile gaming. The reason for this is that it resolves a major problem with mobile games: letting players be physically active and engaged in the world. Game apps are using AR to let gamers play in the real world by overlaying new experiences. For example, many of these games focus on finding things in the world and then interacting with them. This means that players can travel and be active while trying to get to a specific destination or triggering an in-game event.
For companies, this can be beneficial even if they are not in the game industry. Companies can gamify their app experience, which should give users a deeper and more engaging user experience. Doing this to unlock coupons, giveaways, or other incentives is an effective way to change how your app engages your customers.
Education Apps
Another way that companies are using AR to upend the status quo is by integrating AR technology into educational apps. People learn in a variety of ways, but a large number of learners do so through a hybrid approach. Rather than providing videos or text-only formats, try changing your educational app’s platform to an interactive AR system.
By integrating AR, your app will be more interactive. Most people learn best through guided practice. Your app can show them concepts and information relating to real-world experience, making the lessons easier to learn. Educational apps also let users interact with material that they normally could not interact with, significantly raising the quality of the educational experience.
Building in AR is Getting Easier
One of the biggest hindrances to the widespread adoption of AR technology was the difficulty in building apps with AR systems integrated. This is becoming a problem of the past as more AR frameworks are being created and adopted, especially by mainstream developers and technology companies. Even the major technology designers and manufacturers are investing in developing AR-ready systems to make it easier to develop in AR. The result is a dramatic reduction in how hard it is to code AR apps.
Partner with a Development Firm
At KitelyTech, we stay up-to-date on the latest technologies and we have extensive experience developing with new technologies, including AR. We can help you plan and build an AR app that drastically changes how customers interact with your company. Call us at (800) 274 2908 to discuss your app project with our team.
