What exactly is augmented reality?
It’s the art of taking what’s in front of you and adding a digital element, often using a smartphone. Snapchat filters are a great example of this – they still need a ‘live’ view but you can play around with the final image by adding in different digitally-enhanced elements.
Why is this useful in business?
It can be a great marketing and sales tool as it allows would-be customers to engage and interact with something they’re interested in. As a result, you hope to create an emotional response that helps them decide if they want to make a purchase or commit to whatever is on offer.
Is it the same as virtual reality?
No; there are some quite big differences. Virtual reality is about shutting out the outside world and fully immersing yourself in the reality presented by the headset you’re wearing. With augmented reality, it’s more about digitally enhancing what’s in front of you to see different options, typically through the lens of a camera.
What would trigger someone turning on ‘augmented reality’?
This is where the technology gets really clever because there are a whole host of ways you can reach someone. From your very own snapchat filter through to smart packaging and dedicated apps, there are some very tailored ways to help support your marketing efforts and a number of agencies out there that specialise in making the most of this technology.