In the field of e-commerce, the potential for augmented reality (or AR) is enormous! Many big brands have taken an initial interest in augmented reality and its ability to increase engagement in their promotional activities. Small businesses are expected to gradually follow, as AR becomes more democratic and not only captures audience attention but also increases engagement, which is likely to translate into conversions.
But what exactly is augmented reality? This article lists down some of the steps you need to know. Build an Augmented Reality App ,
What is Augmented Reality?
Considered by many to be one of the most promising innovations in digital technology, augmented reality (or AR) is an application that adds layers of digital information to the physical world. Though it is a growing trend, it is yet to be harnessed to its full potential.
Augmented Reality is an interactive experience for its followers as it gives rise to a real-world environment, adorned with computer-inserted images. It thus provides a real-time hybrid experience to the user, placed in an environment that mixes a “real” physical world with a simulated virtual object.
With huge growth, augmented reality is expected to generate a lot of revenue over the next five years.
How to make an Augmented Reality Application?
1. Conduct Market Research
The best way to study the market is to check the nearby apps already available on Google Play Store and App Store.
Download apps that are similar to what you want to achieve, to check out their various features and make a list of points you can improve.
You have to check:
- their performance;
- their design (UI/UX);
- their speed;
- Comments and ratings left by users.
You will identify their shortcomings and find ways to improve existing functions, or highlight user wishes that you can incorporate into your application to provide your customers with a better user experience.
In addition, you can also seek the opinion of your friends, colleagues or anyone whose opinion you find relevant. Ask them if they find the idea useful and what features they think might be missing.
2. Define Specifications
Once the market study is done, define your specifications. This will make it easier for application developers to explain your requirements. If you want to do your own application, that would also be a good starting point.
Your specifications may include the following information:
- List of features and functions you want to include;
- type of mobile application, whether native or hybrid;
- Choice of Platform: iOS, Android or other platform specialized in augmented reality;
- Any specific technology, programming language or tool (which we will discuss below).
3. Develop App
At this time, there are two solutions available to you: If you are a developer, go!
If not, you can take training in one of the tools presented in this article, or you’ll need to contact AR specialists who can understand and implement your needs.
Once you hire a developer, whether it’s freelance or agency, your augmented reality app will slowly come to life. This is clearly an essential step in the development process.
Freelance Developers are available at Codeur.com. Post your ad for free to get quotes from freelance AR experts.
4. Publish App
The process of submitting your app to the Apple App Store may take a few days, depending on the quality of the app and how well you have followed the iOS development guidelines.
On the other hand, the Google Play Store doesn’t really have a review process: your application will be available a few hours after it’s submitted. In addition to uploading your app, simply enter the following information:
- title ;
- grade ;
- keywords;
- description ;
- Mark;
- Screenshot.
What are the tools for building augmented reality applications?
apple arckit
Apple provides a framework for app developers (and businesses) to build augmented reality apps for its App Store.
This framework makes it possible to integrate 3D objects and digital information into the real world. Apple ARKit features inertial visual odometry that makes it possible to accurately track real-world environments.
In addition, it features facial recognition for easily applying effects and mimicking facial expressions, light tracking, angle tracking, 2D object detection, and integration with third party tools such as Unity and Unreal Engine.
You can download it from Apple’s developer site.
Google ARCore
If you want to turn to the Google Play Store, this framework has all the features to help developers mix the real world with the virtual world. It realizes real-world lighting position estimation, size, location and angle detection, and motion tracking.
All these features help to deliver highly realistic augmented reality for enhanced user experience, making Google ARCore one of the best augmented reality developer tools.
It can be downloaded from the Google Developers site.
Vuforia
Vuforia is an SDK that provides immersive, mobile-focused augmented reality experiences. The Vuforia SDK is capable of detecting and tracking target images and 3D objects in real time. Developers can then orient and place virtual objects, 3D models, and different types of content relative to the real environment.
Vuforia can also recognize multiple objects, supports text recognition and provides a wide range of vocabulary. It allows the creation of personalized VuMarks, converts still images to video, and supports cloud or local storage on the devices used.
For larger companies, the price is tailor-made. But if you make less than $10 million in revenue annually and want to use Vuforia, calculate $42/month for the “Basic” version or $99/month for the “Basic Cloud” option.
maxsta
With a wide variety of features, Maxtest provides simultaneous visual localization and mapping. Additionally, Maxst is able to scan QR and barcodes, track images, and integrate Unity plugins.
Maxst offers a free version. For a non-commercial application, otherwise calculate $50 per month or opt for the “one-time fee” version of $700. These two options are available as long as the application does not exceed 100,000 downloads.
wikitude
Wikitude is specifically designed to allow developers of AR applications to create augmented reality focused on the users’ location. It has evolved to offer geolocation, tracking and image recognition functions thanks to its SLAM (simultaneous localization and mapping) technology. As of today, Wikitude is considered as one of the best Augmented Reality mobile application development SDK.
For the price, calculate 2490€ for a “one-time fee”, without SDK updates, or from 3000€ to 4500€ per year. Custom pricing applies when you exceed certain limits.
spade
This engine is initially developed to meet localization requirements (with and without markers). It is optimized to deliver fast performance and good reliability, and its operation is transparent as long as it is integrated into a chipset. With Kudan, you can simplify your augmented reality app development process. Then you have a very fast application!
Kudan is free to download but a license key is required to publish the app. You can have a free key; For non-commercial or educational applications, otherwise calculate 1500€/year.
art toolkit
ARToolkit is another popular and open-source alternative designed for developing AR-based applications.
Although completely free, ARToolkit offers a lot of advanced features that are usually found in paid tools.
It offers rich set of features such as support for single and dual cameras which are found extremely useful by the developers. It also includes a digital compass and GPS, which makes location-based AR “almost” easy…
Deepari
Although Deeper isn’t as popular as the other products listed here, it also has some great features that make it a good candidate for augmented reality application development. It can support real-time location tracking, face detection, and is compatible with iOS and Android devices.
You can calculate the cost of the lamp yourself on the site of the equipment.
conclusion
Augmented reality is experiencing strong growth, but it has yet to unleash its full potential, especially since building an augmented reality application can be as costly as it is time-consuming.
Don’t have the time, knowledge or experience to build your own app? If you need the help of augmented reality developers who understand your business and provide you with the best possible solutions, Codeur.com is one of the best platforms to find a freelancer.