Unlocking the Potential of Augmented Reality in the Consumer Market
https://www.statista.com/statistics/270291/popular-categories-in-the-app-store/ )
Most of our first Augmented Reality experiences was likely to be gained from mobile gaming, and Pokémon GO is probably the most successful and popular game in bringing the concept and experience of Augmented Reality to the wider crowd. According to Statista1, Game is the most popular mobile applications category on both App Store and Play Store. A 2020 Global Games Market Report research from Newzoo2 also states that there are over 2.6 billon mobile gamers around the world compared to 1.3 billion on PCs and 729 million on consoles. These numbers not only indicate a high demand in gaming and entertainment solutions but may also be an indication on a shift of gaming preferences, in which gamers nowadays not only care about the game content but also embrace mobility.
Despite the huge potential that Mixed Reality can bring to the gaming and entertainment industry, neither mobile nor game consoles could bring its immersive visual experience into full play. A pair of AR smart glasses that’s dedicated to the consumer market — Powerful and Portable, might be the key to success. AR smart glasses have the ability to maximize game engagement through the infusion of virtual objects overlaying in the surrounding environment, together with the global 5G rollout and rapidly evolving AR technology, we may start to see significant adoption of AR smart glasses just like smartwatches. Although it may be a long-term effort, but it is convinced to say that AR smart glasses may turn out to be a replacement for mobiles in future years.
There are already a few consumer wearables ready in the market such as MAD Gaze GLOW and GLOW Plus. MAD Gaze is one of the leading AR smart glasses companies and offers free SDKs (https://sdk.madgaze.com/glow/) and technical support to their Developers. If you are a software developer and would love to be part of the booming AR industry, take your first step now and start building one that may impress the crowd. If you aren’t sure where to start, keep an eye on the few AR trends that I’m sharing below to get some ideas.
Real-time and Real-life Gaming Interaction
The potential of AR in gaming is immense, it can totally transform the gaming industry through its revolutionary experience in bringing together the virtual and the real. Gamers are aware of both the real environment and the virtual elements at the same time, such connection provides gamers immersive and three-dimensional gameplay, without detaching from the world. The FPV experience also gives gamers a sense of a real-participation instead of being a virtual avatar, they are allowed to get face-to-face interaction with other players on location, which greatly improves the multiplayer gaming and social experience. Last but not least, AR games allow natural interaction that couldn’t be found in video games, developers can integrate body gestures such as hand movements or head tracking into the game to deliver an authentic gameplay experience to the gamers.
It might be challenging years ago to develop a truly immersive game as AR content are often data-intensive, and 4G lacks the ability to smoothly deliver high-definition AR 3D objects in real-time. The good news is that we are stepping into the 5G era, with its greater bandwidth and ultra-low latency, it will surely boost the experience by drastically speeding up time in image processing and also boost capabilities of spatial computing, giving users a seamless and ultimate experience.
AR Live Broadcast, Streaming Apps, Media
AR could help broadcasters, streaming apps, and film producers setting themselves apart from competitors. AR has the ability to provide dynamic content which greatly enhances audience engagement and interaction. The Weather Channel reinvented their broadcast presentation by integrating AR technology into their weather forecast and sports news since 2015. Interactive AR content was used in their show to mimic different extreme weather conditions to emphasize dangerous and life-threatening situations, this new storytelling option allows the audience to put themselves in the picture and immediately creates a sense of urgency, this transition has also led to a drastic increase in their viewership ever since.
Streaming Apps or the film industry may also integrate AR technology to turn the flat and 2D viewing experience into an immersive and story-living one. One can even involve their viewer into the plot, adding AR gamification elements to maximize the degree of entertainment and interactions between the content and the viewer, allowing them to plan for their storyline, turning passive audience to active participants and greatly elevate the experience.
Dynamic AR filters
AR filters have gone mainstream across social media platforms, it’s no longer just a photo filter but with different gamification elements. Years ago, we were wowed of being able to change our facial features easily on photo-editing applications. Nowadays, the powerful combination of AR and AI instantly transforms your face in a sec with layers of computer-generated images such as virtual avatar, makeup, animations and different fun and interactive AR elements, making it a very sophisticated experience. You can also explore your creativity by integrating such futuristic experience onto AR smart glasses, by using the embedded camera to instantly capture funny moments with AR filters around you, creating a real-time playful experience and boost social interactions among users.
Flying Face, Faceinvaders, Paca-paca)
Crazy ideas drive the world differently. Take action now and register as one of the MAD Gaze Developer on https://developer.madgaze.com
Start contributing to the Mixed Reality World with creative AR/MR content by using our free SDKs! https://sdk.madgaze.com/glow/
If you have any questions or would love to learn more about developing apps for MAD Gaze, shoot us an email at developer@madgaze.com !
References:
1 https://www.statista.com/statistics/279286/google-play-android-app-categories/
1 https://www.statista.com/statistics/270291/popular-categories-in-the-app-store/
1 https://www.statista.com/statistics/270291/popular-categories-in-the-app-store/
2 https://newzoo.com/insights/articles/newzoo-games-market-numbers-revenues-and-audience-2020-2023/
