AR in Consumer Durables
Augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and mixed reality (MR) are all terms that describe technologies that allow us to interact with the world in new and immersive ways. AR and VR are already changing the way we communicate, and view things, MR is expected to gain traction as well soon.
- Augmented reality (AR) overlays digital information on top of the real world. This can be done through a variety of devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and headsets. AR applications can be used for a variety of purposes, such as gaming, education, consumer durables and training. Before we check out how AR can be used in consumer durables, let us just take a look at VR and MR as well.
- Virtual reality (VR) creates a fully immersive digital environment that users can interact with. VR headsets are typically used to experience VR, and they immerse the viewers completely into the virtual environment making them a part of the experience.VR is often used for gaming, entertainment, and training.
- Mixed reality (MR) is a combination of AR and VR. MR applications allow users to interact with both the real world and digital content. MR headsets are typically used to experience MR, and they allow users to see both the real world and digital content. It helps users see and understanding digital elements in context of the real things. MR is still in its early stages of development, but it has the potential to be used for a variety of purposes, such as gaming, education, and training. Apple Vision Pro is an example of upcoming mixed reality headset that is being developed by Apple Inc.
AR in Consumer Durables
Before we discuss how AR can be used in the consumer durables sector, let us understand what the term ‘consumer durables’ itself means. While most of us intuitively know what consumer durables are, defining them formally is kind of vague.The most accepted definition of consumer durables is that they are products that are typically used for more than three years. They include items such as appliances like washing machines, electronics, cell phones and furniture.
AR can be used in the consumer durables sector in a variety of ways, including:
- Product visualization: AR can be used to create interactive 3D visualizations of products, which can help customers to better understand the features and functionality of the products. This can be especially helpful for products that are difficult to visualize in traditional 2D images, such as furniture or appliances.
- Product customization: AR can be used to allow customers to customize products to their specific needs. For example, customers could use AR to choose the colour, size, and features of a new television or to design their own piece of furniture.
- Virtual try-on: AR can be used to allow customers to try on products virtually. This can be especially helpful for products that are difficult to try on in person, such as jewellery or clothing.
- Product maintenance: AR can be used to provide customers with instructions on how to maintain their products. This can help to extend the lifespan of the products and to reduce the need for repairs.
- Sales and marketing: AR can be used to create more engaging and interactive sales and marketing experiences. For example, AR could be used to create interactive product demonstrations or to allow customers to explore products in a virtual showroom.
The use of AR in consumer durables is not only theoretical, it is now a reality. IKEA, the globally renowned furniture store chain has beenusing AR to allow customers to try on furniture virtually. The company’s AR app allows customers to see how different pieces of furniture would look in their homes. Electronics giant Samsung is also using AR to allow customers to customize their televisions. These are just two examples; there are many others.
Developing AR apps for Consumer Durables
Developing user-experience rich apps for consumer durables is quite challenging. AR apps for consumer durables are developed using a variety of technologies, including:
- AR frameworks: AR frameworks provide the basic building blocks for developing AR apps. Some popular AR frameworks include ARCore, ARKit, and PTC Vuforia.
- 3D modeling software: 3D modeling software is used to create the 3D models that are used in AR apps. Some popular 3D modelling software include Blender, Autodesk Maya, and Cinema 4D.
- Image tracking software: Image tracking software is used to track the position and orientation of the user’s device in the real world. This allows AR apps to overlay virtual objects on the real world. Some popular image tracking software includes ARKit, ARCore, and PTC Vuforia.
- Camera calibration software: Camera calibration software is used to calibrate the camera on the user’s device. This ensures that the AR app is able to accurately track the position and orientation of the user’s device. Some popular camera calibration software includes ARKit, ARCore, and PTC Vuforia.
In addition to these technologies, AR apps for consumer durables also require a number of other resources, including:
- A powerful CPU and GPU: AR apps can be computationally expensive, so they require a powerful CPU and GPU to run smoothly.
- A high-resolution display: AR apps need to be able to display high-resolution images and videos, so they require a high-resolution display.
- A good internet connection: AR apps often need to download data from the internet, so they require a good internet connection.
Not all companies have the resources or the expertise to develop AR apps, especially in India. Cost, time and quality of the app are some important factors to consider when deciding whether to develop an AR app for consumer durables in-house or outsource it to an engineering services company. More the experienced the AR / VR / MR app development company, the better will be the user experience. And since consumer durables is a competitive field, a good quality AR experience can make a major impact on the customer’s buying decision.
As AR technology continues to develop, we can expect to see even more innovative and exciting applications in this sector in the years to come. India, with a growing young and tech savvy population is a prime market for reaping the benefits of AR, VR and MR apps.
