Augmented Reality
The definition given in wikipedia.com for Augmented Reality (AR) is, “Augmented reality (AR) is an interactive experience of a real world environment where the objects that reside in the real world are enhanced by computer-generated perceptual information, sometimes across multiple sensory modalities, including visual, auditory, haptic, somatosensory and olfactory.”. AR is a system that combines the real world and the virtual worlds with real-time interaction and with accurate 3D registration of virtual and real objects. This technology helps people in daily activities and make it entertaining at the same time.
Global Market
The AR technology has implemented in many industries like, cosmetic industry, gaming industry, military and in E-commerce etc. Some of the examples are L’Oréal Paris Makeup Genius app, Disney Coloring Book, Google Pixel’s Star Wars Stickers, Bitmoji in Snapchat, Pokémon Go, IKEA Place App.
Disney Coloring Book
This Disney Coloring Book is made by Ever-Inventive Disney research team. This app is called color and play. When the drawing is colored, the character comes to life. It uses the colors and patterns applied by the child on the drawing to the 3D character displayed by the app in real-time. This intelligently uses the colors to the back of the 3D image as those colors cannot be represented in a 2D image. This app uses a process for real-time texturing an AR character from a drawing, deformable surface tracking on tablets and evaluation of the resulting coloring book app. https://youtu.be/SWzurBQ81CM
L’Oréal Paris Makeup Genius app
This app allows users to try out various types of makeup. This identifies the user’s face and virtually show how the user look like with different shades or color of a specific product. This helps the user in purchasing new L’Oréal makeup product or applying makeup by trying them out through the app without applying for real. User can choose predefined makeup looks that matches and it shows which product to use to get that specific look.
Google Pixel’s Star Wars Stickers
This is available in Google phones. Google Pixel’s Star Wars stickers are cute 3D creatures rom the Star Wars movies that can use to make them appear on photos and videos. These stickers are exclusive to Pixel phones. This is an example for the use of AR in entertainment. https://youtu.be/UCv1TjOnrv0
Bitmoji in Snapchat
Bi tmoji is a 3D avatar of yourself. The user can project the avatar to the real world by tapping on the screen and also the avatar is capable of doing many activities like, drinking coffee, do yoga, ride a skateboard and more and the user can send it or post it on Snapchat. Not only this but also so many AR related fun applications are there in Snapchat like Snappables, where you can play games with your facial expressions and AR Bar.
Pokémon Go
This is AR included game. The users have to catch their favorite Pokémon through looking through their phones at the real world but with superimposed image s. This first came on year 2016. The players are notified by vibrating their phones when they are near a Pokémon and they have to catch them throwing a ball at them.
IKEA Place App
IKEA Place app is a good example for the use of AR technology. This allows t he user to select anything from the catalog and see how it look to scale anywhere in the house. This is a very useful tool to match the furniture with the house and find whether they fix to the space. The catalogue comes with over 2,000 products. It shows up at scale with 98% accuracy.
Weather channel studio effects
This is one of the best use of AR technology in the present. The traditional weather channels use a green screen behind and the map and the weather report is displayed in the back of the presenter. But using the AR technology they have created a virtual environment around the broadcaster with the environment with the actual weather. This was first broadcasted by NewcastStudio by the broadcaster Erika Navarro in September to show the danger of the Hurricane Florence bore down on North Carolina. This is a very useful implementation of AR technology. https://youtu.be/K75YFndkAZY
Local Market (Sri Lanka)
In Sri Lanka, AR technology is still in the implementing stage. This technology is used among the youth in Face Apps, social media apps and in gaming applications. Some examples are Snapchat, YouCam Makeup app, Pokémon Go, Pepsi Ekka Swag.
YouCam Makeup App
YouCam Makeup app let you try different makeup looks, makeup products and accessories on the face. This is more of an entertaining app. Hyper-realistic makeovers powered by revolutionary 3D face AR technology experience the most realistic makeover and gives the users a true-to-life makeover experience in real time. This uses real time AR facial detention technology which uses in realistic facial mapping for accurate makeup trials. And also this gives a real time skin care analysis with the help of unparalleled AR and AI. This helps in users in identifying wrinkles, spots, skin textures and dark circles.
Pepsi Ekka Swag
This is a result of an AR campaigned launched by Pepsi Sri Lanka using Facebook’s AR platform. This was designed to promote Pepsi and its current South Asian marketing theme in Sri Lanka, “Pepsi Ekka Swag”. The users can activate the Pepsi AR filter by raising the eyebrows to interact with it.
