The world keeps moving fast, and so does technology. Hence, the things that we thought would be impossible decades back, have almost become possible in front of our eyes. Integrating digital visual content, which also includes audio and other media types into our real-world environments was something impossible in the past, but a possibility in the present. And yes, that is what we call Augmented Reality, or else, simply AR. So, using this technology, various software has come up, and AR applications have simply become demanding. Hence, we thought of focusing this read on AR application development. Scroll down for the full read!
What is AR Application Development?
Any idea about placing a 3D model in the real world? Indeed, this Augmented Reality technology also does some sort of a similar thing, yet with more advanced features. In fact, AR technology projects computer-generated objects into the real world. The AR software supports this process by providing the necessary facilities to integrate the devices such as tablets, mobile phones, and headsets, that contain various sensors, and projectors required for this projection. So, simply, developing such kinds of applications is augmented application development, or else, AR software development.
Importance of AR Applications
Well, in the modern world, the importance of AR software can be noted covering various aspects. However, some of the highlighting features that make AR software significant are as follows.
1. Enhanced Content
Enhanced content simply means more detailed content. So, with the use of AR software making more detailed content available is possible. Just imagine that you have an object in your surroundings and you need more information about that object. Take it easy, because the AR software has the possibility to provide you with more content about that object. All you have to do is to point your device to that object, and the AR software will do the rest. Hence, this AR software is indeed important in providing enhanced content for the users, which will especially benefit studies, research, as well as in businesses.
2. Improved Productivity
AR software can offer improved productivity in various instances. For example, the enhanced content itself provides improved productivity in return. Just imaging manufacturing companies using AR software. Then, the employees can easily understand the workflow of a process, while identifying possible errors, and damages more easily. This helps to solve issues and get decisions more efficiently than going through a manual process. At the same time, such kinds of scenarios reduce the human labor required for tasks, which in return provides space to use that human labor for more crucial tasks. So, likewise, the improved productivity of AR software can benefit industries in various ways.
3. High Audience Engagement
Without a doubt, AR software can create opportunities for high audience engagement. And this factor indeed benefits the marketing and business fields. In fact, this feature of AR software makes customers feel the products, and thus, supports better purchase decisions. Besides, this novelty adds more value to the buying and selling process in the present world. However, it is not only the marketing and business fields that benefit from this high audience engagement feature of AR software. This can even support the manufacturing and engineering fields, where the workers can get better exposure to the products that they are working with. Likewise, this high audience engagement feature of AR also impacts the world in various ways.
4. Better Training Facilities
High audience engagement in return provides better training facilities with AR software. Thus, it has become one of the most important factors related to AR applications. For example, let us consider a physical training session. Let it be the military field, piloting, sailing, or surgery! Whatever the field is, the training would be more beneficial if the participants can get some real experience rather than getting an idea about something using a document or a video clip. Hence, this feature of AR makes it more and more important in the present world.
Use of AR Applications
By now, you have come across several uses of AR applications. However, this section further explains the use of AR applications in specific fields.
Health Sector
The health sector can benefit from AR applications in the following ways.
- For training purposes, especially as a visual aid.
- To practice and plan surgical procedures.
- For tumor identification.
- For blood flow visualization.
Tourism
You can find below some instances where AR applications can benefit the tourism field.
- For marketing and promotions.
- To present information about the places that the tourists are going to visit.
- To visualize an experience or a place prior to the trip.
- For map visualization and easy navigation.
Education
The education sector too can benefit immensely from the use of AR applications. The following facts will prove it to you.
- AR applications can create interesting learning environments.
- They can visualize objects, places, or experiences that are relevant to the studies.
- Successful and interactive training sessions can be held.
Sports and Entertainment
The sports and entertainment field can benefit from AR applications in the following ways.
- To create interesting and fun-filled gaming environments.
- To choose the preferred seats in a cinema or a sports complex.
- For various sports practices.
Types of AR in Applications
Well, there are different ways that Augmented Reality can work. They are as follows.
1. Projection-Based AR
Projection Based AR delivers digital content, especially virtual 3D objects to any working surface. This technology uses a combination of projectors and visual sensors to make it happen. Besides, the users can interact with these objects by touching the physical surface where the projection is happening. Also, this method creates an opportunity for the users to move freely around the physical space where this object is focused on.
Hence, it is indeed better than visualizing an object using a tablet or any other device. Apart from that, this method makes dealing with complex tasks easier, while helping to identify errors more easily. Moreover, projection-based AR can help to reduce the number of computers required for a project, since it provides the space for the instructions to be placed in the created space. So, these features make projection-based AR especially suitable for manufacturing and engineering fields, as it gives a better understanding of an object’s depth and orientation.
2. Recognition-Based AR (Marker-Based AR)
As the name of this type suggests, recognition-based AR is related to identification, or rather a recognition that happens with an application. In fact, this application will have the ability to function their augmentation, once they detect a certain marker, or else a specific pattern that is visually independent in the environment around them.
There are various uses of this recognition-based AR. For instance, this type of augmented experience can help to identify an object, and then provide more information about it. Apart from that, this method supports recognizing an object and replacing it with something else as well. For instance, if a tourist needs to visualize a notice board in some other language, this technology can help him replace the translated content on the screen. Besides, if some object requires closer supervision, a printed marker of that object can help create a 3D model of that object using recognition-based AR. Likewise, the uses of recognition-based AR are simply endless, and thus is indeed an interesting aspect to be tried out in the AR applications based on their requirements.
3. Location-Based AR
Location-based AR is mostly associated with the location detection features of smartphones. What it does is, use this feature of smartphones, while reading data from a device’s camera, GPS, digital compass, and accelerometer, predict the users’ interest points, and then place related information through the screen. And yes, this type of AR is mostly suitable for AR applications that are designed specially to help travelers.
4. Outlining AR
Outlining AR is simply the type of Augment Reality that can help users to avoid the limitations of human eyesight. In fact, certain environmental conditions such as mist, fog, especially low light conditions, and IR prevent humans from observing things clearly. So, this type of AR allows the detection of objects per the requirements, and highlights them using the concept of ‘outlining’.
For example, when the roads are not clearly visible during low light conditions, the use of special cameras and outlining AR can outline and display the boundaries of the roads for the users. Likewise, this type of AR can be used to outline and highlight content according to the requirements that a specific AR application needs to address. Thus, outline AR can simply benefit immensely with the development of various AR applications.
5. Superimposition-Based AR
Superimposition Based AR can help object replacements in two ways. It can either replace a part of an object or else the whole object. Hence, this type of AR helps the users in various tasks by providing an alternative view as per their requirements. However, object recognition lies at the base of this type of AR as the object cannot be replaced accurately unless it is identified properly.
Applications related to the medical field especially can use this type of AR, as it provides augmented views for better supervision. Apart from that, superimposition-based AR is to benefit a lot with regard to the applications related to military training and tourism as well. In fact, the creation of multiple views of a target point can help with military training, and recreating historical experiences at ancient monuments can benefit the tourism industry.
How to Create AR Applications?
Similar to all other software or mobile application development projects, creating AR applications also requires certain steps to be followed to develop a successful product. You can find below the basic steps that we suggest would be important for you to follow.
1. Research and Decide upon your Product
As always, research plays an important role in whatever projects you are working on. So, make sure you start your AR application development project also with research, especially based on the niche that you are going to focus on. This is surely going to provide you with a better understanding of your market space and the competitors, which in return will help you plan a unique product that actually meets the present market demands.
2. Finalize the Specifications of your Product
Successful research would make this step easier for sure. Upon deciding on what your product would exactly be, make sure that you decide upon the specifications of your product. This would be more like the most basic designing phase of your project, which will provide the base for the advanced decisions that you may have to take with regard to the development of the application.
3. Choose the Suitable SDK
SDK simply means the software development toolkit that is to assist you with the development of the AR application. There are many SDKs as well as platforms for augmenting application development. So, you can study about them, and choose what suits you the best. However, be mindful of the programming language, operating system, monetization concepts, and license when you are choosing the SDK.
4. Development
This is exactly where the real work takes place. Based on the specifications decided, and the tools and technologies selected the development of the AR application can take place.
5. Testing
Of course, testing a product is essential before a release. So, in this phase, the products need to be tested, and the QA teams can assist here. The team will use both manual and automated testing methods to assure that the product meets the expected quality.
6. Release
Upon assuring that the product works fine, your AR application can be released. How you are going to make it available to the public can depend on your preferences, and business goals.
Of course, if you have hands-on experience with mobile application development, you can surely try developing your own AR applications. Still, if you are a beginner or a businessman who needs support with AR application development, there are several experienced companies in Sri Lanka that would provide you with their service. LakMobile Technologies is one such entity that you can reach out to with trust for any of your AR application development requirements.
The Bottom Line
After all, the era where a simple mobile application or website amused the general public is all gone now. Thus, you need something special and interactive to make your business, training or simply any product, stand out from the rest in the present world. This brings out a good demand for AR applications, and owing to these reasons, the demand for AR applications is not going down any sooner. So, suppose you are aiming at entering the mobile application development field or looking at the possibilities of making your business stand out from the rest. In that case, AR application development is indeed something to think about. And yes, AR applications are sure to do many more wonders in the years to come!
