AR technology is breaking barriers and opening new possibilities in multiple aspects of our existence. The uses of augmented reality today and in the future range from entertainment to industry, education and medicine. As this software development services continue to advance, we can expect significant changes in the way we work, learn, entertain ourselves, and engage with the world around us.
What is augmented reality (AR)?
Augmented reality (AR) is a technology that combines virtual elements with the real environment , allowing users to interact with digital objects superimposed on the physical world through devices such as mobile phones, tablets or special glasses. Unlike virtual reality, which creates a completely digital environment, augmented reality adds virtual elements to the existing environment , creating an immersive and enriching experience.
There are many types of augmented reality , such as :
- Augmented reality on markers
- Augmented reality with image tracking
- Geolocated augmented reality
- Augmented reality on surfaces
- Augmented reality in spaces
- body tracking
- Face tracking
Uses of augmented reality (AR) in application development
In software development services, augmented reality is used to provide additional information, interaction and data visualization in real time . Some of the uses of augmented reality in application development are the following:
e-commerce
Augmented reality is used to allow users to virtually try out products before making a purchase. Like seeing how a piece of furniture would look in your home or being able to try on a piece of clothing to see how it looks…
Education
Augmented reality (AR) is used to enhance the learning experience by allowing students to interact with virtual objects , explore complex concepts in 3D, and access additional information.
Entertainment
Augmented reality games have gained popularity, such as Pokémon Go, where players can catch virtual characters in real-world environments .
Tourism and travel
Tourism apps use augmented reality (AR) to provide information and interactive guides about historical places, points of interest and directions in real time.
Advertising and marketing
Augmented reality is used to create interactive and immersive advertising campaigns , where users can experience products or services before purchasing them.
Product design and architecture
Augmented reality allows designers and architects to visualize 3D models in the real environment , making it easier to make decisions and present ideas to clients.
Health and medicine
In the healthcare field, augmented reality (AR) is used for medical training , viewing medical images in real time, and improving precision in surgery.
Technologies and languages used to develop Augmented Reality applications
Creating augmented reality (AR) applications involves the use of different technologies and development tools. Below are some of the technologies and programming languages commonly used to develop augmented reality applications:
ARKit (iOS) and ARCore (Android)
They are two augmented reality development platforms developed by Apple and Google, respectively. They provide APIs and tools to create experiences on iOS and Android mobile devices . They use features like motion tracking, surface recognition, and object detection to create immersive augmented reality applications.
Unity3D
It is a very popular game engine used to create both augmented reality games and applications. Unity3D offers an integrated development environment (IDE) and a set of tools that make it easy to create experiences. It supports integration with ARKit and ARCore, and provides features such as real-time rendering, physics, and cross-platform support.
Vuforia
It is an augmented reality (AR) development platform that allows you to create applications for mobile devices, smart glasses and other devices. Vuforia offers features like object detection and tracking, image recognition, and marker detection, making it easy to create interactive experiences.
WebAR
WebAR technology allows you to create augmented reality experiences that run directly in a web browser , without the need to download a specific application. It uses web technologies such as HTML5, CSS and JavaScript, along with specific APIs such as WebXR. This provides greater accessibility and ease of use for users .
OpenCV
It is a widely used open source library for computer vision applications. OpenCV offers algorithms and functions for image processing and object recognition , which is useful for augmented reality applications that require real-time object detection and tracking.
WebGL
It is a 3D graphics technology based on web standards that allows interactive graphics to be rendered in a web browser without the need for additional plugins. It can be used in conjunction with libraries and frameworks such as Three.js to create web-based augmented reality applications.
These are just some of the software development services and tools used in the development of augmented reality applications. The choice of technologies will depend on the needs of the project, the target platform and the experience of the custom software development company.
Future of Augmented Reality
The future of augmented reality looks exciting and full of possibilities. As custom software development services advances, we can expect it to become even more integrated into our lives and have a significant impact in various areas.
Some future trends and developments include more advanced devices, more immersive experiences, integration with the Internet of Things (IoT), applications in medicine and health, and advances in industry and productivity.
Author Bio:
Glad you are reading this. I’m Yokesh Shankar, the COO at Sparkout Tech, one of the primary founders of a highly creative space. I’m more associated with digital transformation solutions for global issues. Nurturing in Fintech, Supply chain, AR VR solutions, Real estate, and other sectors vitalizing new-age technology, I see this space as a forum to share and seek information. Writing and reading give me more clarity about what I need.
