Augmented Reality is imminent to hundreds of millions of iOS devices as a new platform for developers to build apps that permit users to place virtual content on top of real-world scenes.
Virtual content is overlapped into reality through images in 2D or 3D via the screen of a connected device like a tablet, smartphone or glasses.
It is usually found in games but businesses are steadily acquiring and exploring this new technology. Augmented reality can be used in the field of tourism, business, e-commerce and automobiles.
Swiftly but certainly AR is becoming much more of a utility than a novelty.
Apple’s Next Big Thing
Apple has chosen AR as its next big thing and the center of attention for the future, from smartphones to smart wearables.
In order to make its AR push, Apple has acquired startups FlyBy Media and Metaio, and appointed executives from competitors like Facebook’s Oculus, Amazon, Dolby and Microsoft’s HoloLens to their ranks.
Apple is spending considerable resources into AR applications, and structuring a powerful team to figure out its product scheme.
With the release of mobile video game Pokemon Go, AR hit its pace. Players would wipe locations around them to discover virtual Pokemon. They could then detain the virtual Pokemon sitting in a tree or along a track.
Company executives, including CEO Tim Cook, have been quite vigorous about their perspective that AR could be the next big thing in the industry.
In an interview, Cook drew the contrast between augmented and virtual reality. He explained that augmented reality’s market option is vast and could be as enormous as the iPhone.
iOS11 for Developers
At the Uuniversal Developers Conference, Apple expressed the power of generating new AR experiences for iPhone and iPad, and described more tools to help millions of skillful developers around the world, including new features and experiences to over one billion active Apple devices. With the availability of AR services it becomes easier to turn your vision into a marketable reality.
A Closer Look at iOS 11
Core ML frame makes it simple for developers to produce smarter apps with strong machine learning that anticipates, learns and becomes sharper. Depicted to iOS, this new framework for machine learning allows all operations to happen locally on-device, using Apple’s custom silicon and tight integration of hardware and software, to convey robust performance while supporting user privacy.
HomeKit is even more approachable, with simpler strategies for developers to begin new verification opportunities using their software.
SiriKit offers developers the power to merge Siri into their apps and with iOS 11 it grows to assist more categories such as reminders, notes and to-do lists etc
MusicKit authorizes developers to combine Apple Music features into their apps, offering access to over 40 million songs, featured content, recommendations and recent search.
Advantages of Augmented Reality
Boost Sales
Augmented reality helps to boost your sales through various apps that are used in retail and automotive industries.
One barrier to online shopping is that products are not always accurately described due to imperfect photo availability. But, AR makes it possible to envision an object in its correct form before making an actual purchase. AR helps to:
- Provides a sense of ownership while engaging with a digital model of a product.
- Turn any surface into a multimedia platform like AR furniture, AR story books etc.
- Dispose of insecurities by offering a 3D configurator to visualize all options and view the end result.
- Enable the sharing the assembled product with your peers and get their feedback before making any decision.
Maximize Visibility
Technological revolution and expansions are progressively accepted by users and customers. A company that wants to use AR gains the advantage of maximized visibility with a confirmed image. In this way, the company can entice new audiences and maintain its existing clients.
Enhance Content
AR is a data-adding system that provides time-saving and cultural benefits. It also offers supplementary information in real time in certain environments. For example: AR can give information of users about historic sites on a trip on a picturesque drive, or about plants and historical evolution.
AR is next move in the digital era. We will be able to see variation in our environments either through a smartphone, glasses and windows with content and media right in front of us. This allows us to be more secure and informative in our lives.
Imagine not deliberating where to eat, where to go, or what to do, as our surroundings will make our interactions perfectly consistent.
We will be unable to observe the difference between the real and virtual and ultimately our world will become a combination of digital and physical media.
