WEB DESIGN and Augmented Reality (AR)

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Some of us might confuse about augmented reality and virtual reality (in short AR and VR). As similar as they sound, AR and VR are very different technologies. AR super imposes digital images onto a real image or video without altering the majority of surrounding environment and it can be done by using only smartphones. While VR creating an immersive 3D experience and it requires additional equipment like goggles or headgear. Therefore, AR technology is tend to reach a wider audience, such as users browsing website, mobile app and also we can easily immerse AR by building web application.

To be precise, Augmented Reality (AR) is a sort of interactive, reality-based presentation setting which takes the competences of computer created presentation, sound, text and effects to boost the real-life involvement of users. (“What is Augmented Reality (AR)? – Definition from Techopedia”, 2019)

To put it simply, augmented reality layers invented pictures over reality, permitting users to view the actual world around them, for instance, users will be able to see computer-created pictures layered on their real environments, just by using the smartphone’s camera function. (Thompson, 2018)

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Augmented Reality in Web Design

AR is now beginning to enhance user involvement on desktop and mobile, with a reduced amount of potential for error than with wearable technology. In recent years, the implementation of AR has been done by e-commerce web designers via the usage of webcams or smartphone cameras to assist consumers in choosing their products.

For example, in fashion merchandising, a US-based JC Penney is currently using AR on their glass retailers to provide an exposure to user on the ‘virtual dressing room’. Through AR, users can point their smartphone and desktop camera towards themselves and browse through the selection of outfits which are presented on the display. (Thompson, 2018)

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Thanks to the formation and establishment of compatible plugins such as WordPress VR, which allows web designers to transfer any 360-degree videos to their sites, the AR applications have made a great advancement. (Guest Writer, 2018)

Augmented Reality in Digital Marketing

To be a successful entrepreneurs and marketers, they need to be exceptional storytellers, which is what augmented reality is most capable of – bringing the finest out of digital marketing and advertising to life. With AR, users are given the opportunity and able to mingle and get involve with the products before making decision on purchasing the products. (Guest Writer, 2018)

Impact of Augmented Reality

One of the best things about AR is that it provides a completely 360 experience that desktop computers are not capable of. Because of this, designers are provided with a wider extent of opportunity to network with their users. Apart from that, AR helps to remove the new types of tactile communications to which users have become familiarized to the use of smartphones. AR utilizes automation intuitively, rather than scrolling and zooming, while helping users to reinstate their human communications by letting them to ‘touch’ virtual objects. ‘Contextual computing’ utilizes resources like analytics to assist AR to comprehend users better. Alternatively, instead of responding to a set of command, AR’s automation will gather contextual details from historical user data and the real-life environment to show the utmost beneficial content to the user at that moment in time. (Thompson, 2018)

For now, AR poses as challenging for designers. With web design heading to being mobile, the decision to finance in the optimization of AR-infused desktop involvements becomes complicated. Before taking advantage of AR, web designers need to have better understanding of their audiences, as AR is more dependent on customer experience. Sooner or later, AR is revolutionizing the web design industry and the best is yet to arise. (Guest Writer, 2018)

Sources:

What is Augmented Reality (AR)? – Definition from Techopedia. (2019). Retrieved 29 October 2019, from https://www.techopedia.com/definition/4776/augmented-reality-ar

Thompson, J. (2019). How Augmented Reality is Transforming the Web Design Industry | KIJO. Retrieved 29 October 2019, from https://kijo.co.uk/blog/augmented-reality-web-design/

Guest Writer. (2018, November 21). How Augmented Reality Will Change Web Design Over the Next 5 Years. Retrieved October 29, 2019, from IoT For All website: https://www.iotforall.com/how-augmented-reality-will-change-web-design-over-the-next-5-years/