Augmented Reality

 

images are taken in courtesy of: http://owni.eu/files/2011/05/augmentedreality2.jpg and http://exploreengage.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/6.jpg

Augmented reality, a new form of technology has revolutionized learning, advertising and gaming. By making use of haptics, graphics and sound, augmented reality has changed the way in which users view their world. It causes viewers to be immersed into an entirely different virtual environment that is built from a two-dimensional (2D) image. Viewers who have firsthand experience of augmented reality can benefit from the computer generated graphics that simulate real-life objects that are in front of their eyes.    

Personally, I believe that there are plenty of benefits of augmented reality. Many devices, including computers, video games and mobile phones are now employing the new technology to create a virtual environment for entertainment, learning and commerce. Augmented reality can be used for many purposes, one of them being advertising.  

Augmented Reality and Advertising

For busy, working people who are always on the go, shopping has never been a greater pain for them. Racking through shelves after shelves, carefully reading labels of products in search for the perfect brand of product can cost unnecessary time. With Augmented reality, consumers will have an easier time searching for their products without the need to go through the laborious process of figuring out the contents written on those labels.

Likewise, advertisers who market their products using augmented reality create a niche product that would allow consumers to obtain fast and easy information about their products. Through augmented reality, information about a particular product will be displayed on an interactive screen. Buyers can whip out their mobile devices and other portable electronic devices to get information that is related to the product by simply taking a shot of the product itself. This is not only a convenient way of shopping; but it also ensures that the information given is simple and understandable, something that is often lacking in product labels these days. Sometimes, consumers have difficulty reading labels of product due to its small fonts or lack of interpretation of the original language written on them. Thus, this serves to communicate information to consumers in a clear, concise and entertaining approach.

More importantly, the ability to store and display information through the enhanced visual technology also mean that advertisers can keep consumers updated with the latest information about the product. Companies can benefit from unnecessary cost spent in recalling products due to incorrect information printed on their products.

Finally, with the improvements of technology in this fast-paced society, advertising products through the use of augmented reality would certainly rack up more sales for companies as the graphics featured are attention-grabbing and compelling. There is no doubt that viewers would stop and pay attention to those info graphics popping out of those products!