ARe you ready? Let's augment the reality!

Augmented Reality is no longer just a buzzword for tech enthusiasts. It has found its way into popular conversations. Why not?

The technology offers the magical blend of physical and virtual elements making it possible to overlay virtual elements around physical elements to lend context, depth and layers to a story or a communication solution.

Just imagine, if advertising can use this interesting technology with AR-enabled printables, offering customers an engaging promotion, wouldn't it raise the bar?

Just imagine, if newspapers provided longer-form stories adding details, context to an otherwise crisp story, wouldn't it be the next level of journalism?

Just imagine, if gaming can up the ante with the help of this technology and offer customised dashboards, virtual avatars, mascots, guides and personalised feedback?

Just imagine, if companies can use AR-enabled presentations and relieve audiences of clicking the 'Next button', giving the control in their hands with an interactive format, each member choosing to explore the section s/he considers important?

Just imagine, if toy companies can make AR-enabled maps, story books, wouldn't kids love it?

Just imagine, if virtual tours could be sold to travel enthusiasts with a limited budget?

So what makes AR so promising?

Experiential quotient

AR adds an experiential quotient, thereby appealing to the visual senses.

Friendly to the senses

Unlike VR where one can feel dizzy after a point, AR doesn't suffer from such drawbacks.

Multiple Formats

AR can be used in multiple ways- Web AR, AR printables, AR kiosks etc. thereby making marketers be inclined to it!

But, all is not well. Why?

Apart from experiments here and there, industries haven't fully explored the technology. The reasons are known. Inertia, resistance to change, revenue-oriented approach over knowledge-oriented approach etc.

However, if used well, AR can simply change the game, for it indeed is an idea whose time has come!