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AR devices are increasingly being manufactured for numerous industries such as healthcare, media and entertainment, eCommerce and more.
A large quantity of AR devices has been produced which has helped expand future mobile app development scope.
Augmented reality technology has revolutionized how businesses operate. It has significantly decreased product quality disparity while improving reliability issues within eCommerce environments.
Healthcare, fashion and manufacturing, gaming entertainment, and gaming industries have recognized the advantages of Augmented Reality for smartphones as they facilitate communication more easily between businesses and people as well as an improved viewing of products.
This blog describes what Augmented Reality apps (AR apps) do, their role in increasing mobile application development scope and why AR has revolutionized business practices today.
What is Augmented Reality (AR)?
Augmented reality (AR) is a version of the technology that uses digital elements such as sound, visuals, and other sensors to combine the physical world with digital elements.
The dominance of mobile app development is growing rapidly.
AR is sometimes referred to as VR (Virtual reality). However, AR is not a virtual reality. AR, unlike VR, usually requires a headset like an Oculus Rift.
AR allows app developers and businesses to integrate digital data in the real world into mobile applications.
Pokemon Go, for example, was able to capture the attention of the world so quickly because it created a game that combines virtual and real-world realities.
This game app, which uses augmented reality technology, had 900,000,000 downloads during its first release and generated $1.2 billion in revenue.
What Is The Current State Of Augmented Reality App Development?
BBC experts estimate the AR market could hit $162 billion by 2024 due to growing consumer interest in AR gadgets; as mobile phone usage surges due to Android phones dominating their respective markets, Android App Development companies should gain from developing AR applications for them.
AR is already shaping app creation around the globe and being requested by different sectors such as healthcare, real estate and finance.
As Android and iOS are the two primary mobile operating systems, cross-platform AR apps must be created. IKEA, one of the world's premier furniture manufacturers, recently unveiled an AR app which enables customers to visualize IKEA products via mobile phones.
Customers can use this app to test how a table or chair will look in their room or bedroom using this application.
People enjoy experiencing different things. Businesses and companies understand this fact; customers require engaging experiences before buying any product or service.
Thus, businesses look for technology which will enable them to present their offerings more attractively to prospective clients.
Business owners can utilize AR to gain an edge against competitors. AR provides businesses with an innovative method for engaging customers and elevating customer experiences; its applications could have profound ramifications on eCommerce and retail as customers desire a realistic review experience.
Hardware and Platforms for Augmented Reality
Platforms such as Apple's ARkit and Google's ARore enable app developers to build truly innovative applications by adding AR features to existing or new apps.
Both allow iOS and Android developers to experiment with overlaying virtual elements onto physical reality - we will list the features of both platforms below:
Apple's new ARkit: (Apple) platform includes three main functions: object detection and tracking; environmental understanding (the camera can scan, analyze and interpret any scene such as walls); light estimation - to detect whether there is or is not light present; light estimation.
ARCore: This platform resembles ARKit with some minor variations: motion tracking uses objects in their environment to establish where an Android device should face and how its orientation changes, similar to how ARKit does; light estimation estimates the amount of light present and distributes light accordingly;
Like virtual reality apps: AR apps can be developed on various platforms. Hardware to enhance and support AR technology exists as well, providing heads-up displays to present data without forcing eyes away from natural fields of vision - similar to virtual reality glasses, which bring AR experiences right up in front of our faces.
AR apps: can be downloaded onto handheld devices like smartphones and tablets for an immersive AR experience, placing control in the hands of its user.
AR hardware differs significantly from virtual reality equipment in that it does not rely on desktop computers or cables - Bluetooth technology often connects smartphones with glasses allowing a hands-free experience; among the more popular AR glasses are:
Vuzix Blade: Offering 2.5-hour battery life and HD Camera technology with Map Directions and Restaurant Menu Viewing functions; Weather Information Alerts are received directly from Smartphone, providing users with hands-free information from Smartphone.
Solos: and its Features Commonly used by runners and cyclists alike, Solos offers performance analytics as well as audio navigational cues to aid them on their run or bike ride.
You can track performance improvements over time as well as favorite routes saved and tracked time and distance covered.
Sony SmartEyeGlass Features: The lightweight hardware can impose text, images and symbols into one's natural field of vision; connect via Bluetooth with smartphones; utilize Hologram optical technology; provide navigation instructions and hands-free assembly instructions; as well as retrieve sports statistics.
How Mobile App Development Includes Augmented Reality
The AR movement was sparked by the huge popularity of the Pokemon Go application released in 2016. As we discussed in our previous article on the use of AR in businesses and industries, this app's release in 2016 has been credited with the AR revolution.
This app has been downloaded more than 800 million times by March 2018. This game demonstrated the amazing possibilities that augmented reality offers mobile app developers and how it is an effective tool to engage users.
AR adds a new level of engagement and experience for customers. You may be wondering how to incorporate augmented reality into your app.
We have listed some of the general phases that you should consider before moving forward with your AR project.
Select AR Elements You Would Like To Include: Once you read through this article, you should have an excellent grasp of augmented realities.
As we mentioned previously, AR refers to the incorporation of digital objects into physical environments - but how you plan to incorporate AR in your application will depend entirely upon you - whether adding facts through GPS coordinates or showing internal anatomy when the camera points at certain body parts - or both are possibilities - you have control of which features you want to be added.
Set out how you will integrate AR elements: Select which AR platform will best meet the requirements for creating the app - such as ARKit or ARCore, depending on which devices will be supporting your endeavor.
What will my user's interactions be with this AR app: Users interacting with an augmented reality application include receiving push notifications and how they launch AR features (via hitting buttons or voice activation etc...) Additionally, anchor codes or QR codes might be needed in order to make these features function correctly.
Determine an AR Category: As previously noted, there are four AR categories. Your options for creating your app could include marker-based, markerless/location-based, superimposition or projection-based AR elements.
It is crucial to make this choice so your users experience optimal user engagement with your app.
Wearable Support: Does Your App Allow for Augmented Reality Hardware Such as Smart Glasses? You want your users to have a truly hands-free, immersive experience, so answering this set of questions will give you a clearer sense of your goals for an augmented reality project before embarking on its creation.
Apps that use Augmented Reality
We have found the best apps that use augmented reality for you to test out now that you're a mini-expert. Check it out!
Flirtar: Flirting with Augmented Reality
According to their team, FILTRAR will make flirting easy by using Augmented Reality (AR). Connect with Flirtar members wherever you are or wish to be using AR and meet people from anywhere worldwide instantly in real-time using your FLIRTAR app and AR experience if that person is a registered member (we display information such as name, age and interests depending on permission settings and profile configuration), notifying both of your presence if interested and starting a chat if required.``
Ingress: Transforming Reality into a Game
Our team says: "Ingress transforms real life into an arena for an intriguing, thrilling, and competitive game of intrigue and suspense - our future at stake - which requires you to choose sides.
Scientists in Europe have discovered a mysterious energy with unknown origin or purpose which influences human thinking - either controlling us directly or forcing us into submission if left alone by its forces. Enlightened members seek to harness its potential while the Resistance fights to maintain humanity." Install Ingress now to change your world!
Quiver: Augmented reality Coloring
Our team's team states, Coloring has never been this exciting! The Quiver App combines physical coloring pages from "back in 'the day'' with state-of-the-art augmented reality to deliver an extraordinary coloring experience to you and your kids! The Quiver App gives them both freedom to interact with customized creations created especially just for them by unlocking our unmatched expertise in augmented-reality!
Zombie Go: Killing Zombies in Your Neighbourhood
According to its team: "Zombie GO (tm), The Real World Zombie Game and Augmented Reality Shooter offers you the thrills and chills of hunting zombies as you traverse your city, house or job site with ease! Keep watch for any appearance of zombies as swarms appear around every corner; power up with a camera phone pistol and take them down one by one."
Sephora Virtual Artist, The team, says this:
Just a Line: Draw in ARAccording to its team, Just a Line allows users to easily create simple drawings with AR technology and then share their artwork as a short video.
Draw alone or collaborate on collaborative creations - then hit record to share via #justaline
Read More: The Impact Of Augmented And Virtual Reality In Education
What Is The Impact Of Ar On Mobile App Development?
See how Augmented Reality Mobile Applications are changing the way businesses operate and their customer's experience.
Location-based AR App
Apps that use geolocation data from mobile phones provide information about a specific location. The user can interact with the physical world with an augmented overlay.
These location-based AR applications provide customers with a virtual tour of the city or help them find their parking spot in a nearby area.
Improve The Customer Experience In Store
Apps that simulate products in real size in virtual rooms give customers an in-store experience. AR apps for mobile can be used in the retail sector to allow users to try clothes on virtually, saving them time and effort.
Apps that utilize augmented reality allow the store to display more inventory than it can physically handle. Converse, Sephora and L'Oreal are some examples of apps that use augmented reality.
Enhancing Online Shopping Experience
Before buying a product, customers look at demo videos or videos that show the item being unboxed. Companies and brands are able to offer their products in a real-world setting by using mobile apps that use augmented reality.
They can eliminate the possibility of a shopping cart being abandoned and doubted.
Innovative e-learning Experience
AR will undoubtedly benefit the education sector. AR apps make online education and e-learning creative and more effective.
Tutors are able to use real-time virtual graphics and animations while interacting with students. This innovative technology in education can revolutionize learning. ZooBurst, Chromville Science and other AR apps are popular.
Unique Social Media App
Snapchat and Musical.ly have been the most popular apps using augmented reality. Mobile app developers who want to create a social media app that is unique and engaging can use AR technology.
Real Estate
Real estate is maximizing the benefits of business applications that use augmented reality. Real estate agents and realtors use the AR app in order to promote the advantages of a property.
The AR app is integrated into the mobile application to allow potential buyers or renters a 3D view of the apartment.
Brand Awareness Is Important For Brand Recognition
AR technology helps companies increase brand awareness. AR apps can give a business an advantage over competitors when it comes to attracting new customers.
Apps that use augmented reality are a powerful tool for mobile app marketing. They help to retain customers as well as attract new ones.
How Do You Develop Apps?
Apps using augmented reality depend on several key considerations, including location- or marker-based approaches as well as image processing abilities.
An AR app will often superimpose digital content onto physical items in real-time; when developing such apps, getting their digital and physical elements aligned is one of the biggest obstacles to being met successfully.
Make sure the user interface and experience of your app match the needs of its target demographic. Otherwise, the risk exists of it not meeting users' demands.
Keep your AR experience intuitive and user-friendly, as people will not use AR if its implementation becomes complex or cumbersome.
AR app development demands unique skills not commonly found within mobile development teams.
Not only must you collaborate with mobile app developers, but you will need other skills, too, such as 3D modeling, imaging and computer vision. A specialist designer/developer must work alongside mobile app developers in order to integrate AR features into a new or modified app.
C# or C++ programming languages are typically employed when developing AR apps to ensure simplicity for other developers on a project, with ARPA SDKs such as DroidAR for Android, Metaio SDKs, Vuforia SDKs, Wikitude SDKs ARLab SDKs offering access to trusted platforms allowing AR object creation as well as tools which reduce development time - these platforms include ARLab SDKs which support iOS/Android, Google Glass/Windows as well as Unity platforms making building AR applications simpler by offering access to hundreds of tools as well as large communities of developers worldwide!
Let's assume augmented reality can enhance your app and increase revenue, and now look at its cost to develop and implement.
What Is The Cost Of Developing An Augmented Reality Mobile App?
Here's the cost of creating an AR app after you understand the scope of augmented reality in the mobile apps industry.
AR app costs are largely determined by three main factors:
- Location - when should augmented reality apps be used?
- What information is expected of a user?
- How you will provide the solution
AR apps can define a location or place using technology such as 2D or 3-D image matching and tracking, GPS, gyroscopes, compasses, accelerometers, face recognition, SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping), and location tracking.
This information is augmented by 3D models and animation gestures, mainly in the form of text, pictures, videos, or audio.
You can use a variety of tools to create an application that uses augmented reality. iOS app developers may charge differently depending on which Apple device you are creating the app for, such as iPhones, iPads, Macs, etc.
Common Tools
Our app developers have compiled a list of the most convenient and common tools to help you build an AR app. Our app developers have put together a list of tools designed to assist in developing an AR app.
ARPA SDKs Offrent
ARPA SDKs visual information options include rendering engines and image detection services to allow visual data presentation, as well as features allowing for interactive user interactions such as rotation or scaling of images.
Geolocation services may also prove invaluable.
At ARlab SDKs
They offer both paid plans as well as trial versions that you can try for free. It supports Android, iOS and Google Glass platforms and its best feature is adding and removing POIs without real-time reference - it supports Android and iOS too! They even provide offline maps.
This tool supports Android as well!
Droid AR:
This open-source framework that enables mobile apps to add location-based AR functionality has been specifically created to work on Android OS; free and paid license options are both offered; it only supports this OS version.
Metaio SDK
Offers similar functionality as ARPA SDKs, with additional capabilities like QR/barcode scanner support for online and offline visual searches.
Apple recently acquired this widely recognized software.
The M-100
Epson Moverio Bt-200 and Windows are compatible with Android, iOS and Google Glass devices. Vuforia SDK gives users access to functions like multitarget detection and virtual buttons - this service is only available with paid licenses but supports both platforms! It supports Android and iOS operating systems.
Wikitude SDK
It offers similar functionality as Vuforia SDK for use with Android, iOS PhoneGap Titanium Xamarin, Google Glass Epson Moverio Vuzix M-100 and Optinvent ORA1.
It supports these operating systems: Android, iOS, PhoneGap, Titanium, Xamarin, Google Glass, Epson, Moverio, Vuzix, and M-100 Optinvent ORA1.
Top Considerations When Choosing A Partner For Mobile App Development
It is wise to find a mobile app partner who has experience and professionalism.
Consider these factors when searching for a mobile app company:
- Experience and professionalism are two essential criteria when searching for a mobile app partner.
- When making this selection, make sure that they offer experience developing apps for iOS, Android and web platforms, as well as check their portfolio to confirm they can meet these expectations.
- Assuring your development team understands the frameworks and languages selected for app creation is of great importance.
- Ask for their list of tools used for prototyping mobile applications, as this may provide insights.
- Furthermore, make sure your development team knows about current coding standards to avoid costly mishaps during app creation.
- Ask about their development process and release schedule; validate API integration experience and the data security features they plan on working on during development; ask about any PCI-DSS certification for payment gateway designers as well.
- Question the tools and processes being employed during testing.
What is Next for Augmented Reality in Business?
AR apps are increasingly utilized by consumers. Businesses have taken full advantage of augmented reality's growing technology by adopting AR to take the user experience to another level, with mobile app development firms and businesses taking full advantage of AR.
AR has the potential to transform mobile apps and smartphones. Google and Apple are leaders in adopting AR solutions; users expect more companies will offer revolutionary AR applications.
AR App Development can be an excellent way of increasing revenue and drawing in customers if you have great ideas for apps.
Your app must use cutting-edge technologies; consult this list of top augmented reality app developers in 2021 for help in this regard.
Our augmented reality solution Company has a dedicated group to produce augmented reality apps on both platforms. For more information, please get in touch.
