I’m a Trekkie. I admit it. I love Star Trek – the original series, of course. They had the coolest gadgets and technology. And a lot of what was science fiction then is reality today.
Remember the Communicator? I thought this was the coolest thing. You could actually talk to someone “far” away on a small hand-held device – no wires needed. Today, who can live without a cell phone?
Scanners were pretty darn cool too. You point a small hand-held device towards an object or area and instantly know very detailed information about what you couldn’t see with the naked eye. Sound familiar?
Enter Augmented Reality.
What is Augmented Reality?
Wikipedia defines Augmented Reality (AR) as “a live, direct or indirect, view of a physical, real-world environment whose elements are augmented by computer-generated sensory input such as sound, video, graphics or GPS data.” AR is beginning to change how we view and connect with products.
See for yourself:
Ikea Catalog
Ikea just announced that its 2013 catalog will be brought to life with AR. Ikea has printed catalogs since 1951. And when they distribute their upcoming catalog, it will be greatly enhanced with AR. The 211 million consumers who use the catalog will be able to, among other things, see inside their furniture with “x-ray” vision. (source: Creativity Online)
PNC Bank
How many times have you been traveling and needed to locate an ATM? Some banks, including PNC Bank, have now made that a lot easier. An app on your Smartphone allows you to hold your phone vertically and PNC Bank locations will be “overlayed” on a live-feed from your camera. Getting to your money has never been easier. (Source: PNC)
Augmented Reality is just beginning to take off. Professional web design firms utilizing AR can be a dynamic force for your brand. You’re only limited by your imagination on what AR can do to help market your brand more effectively and enhance customer experience.
Who knows which technology from Star Trek will be brought to life next? I, for one, hope it’s a Transporter so I can “beam” myself to a nice tropical island.
SHARE THIS:
