Helping us walk a mile in someone else’s shoes: The next steps in AR at Google I/O 2021.
This year’s virtual Google I/O conference had several big headlines. There were announcements on enhanced privacy settings for Android 12, cameras that can pick up skin tone more accurately and a writing tool that can help us use more inclusive language. As a Digital Project Manager, keeping up with all of these changes is both vital and fascinating.
Tucked away within the agenda was a quick session about new developments in ARCore, Google’s platform for building Augmented Reality (AR) experiences. For those who aren’t familiar, AR is a way of adding to or augmenting the physical world using digital overlays. For example, you might use your phone’s selfie camera to see what different glasses would look like without having to physically try them on.
AR experiences are really moving away from being just a fun gimmick. Developments announced by Google show how technology can improve the way we engage and connect with consumers.
Here are some of the highlights:
Enhancing the ‘realism’ with improved motion tracking – if your AR image keeps resetting or glitching as you move your phone around, it can be frustrating. This upgraded tracking helps to maintain the experience and create better connections with users.
Using machine learning – enhancing an AR experience with machine learning can mean adding algorithms that help you make better decisions. For example, in a game of chess, the tech can show you the next best move to make.
The new ‘raw depth API’ – the real-world environment can be measured with greater accuracy and precision. For example, if you’re using AR to show rainfall, ARCore will detect where objects are in the room and bounce off them, blending and integrating more seamlessly than before.
‘Instant placement’ – effectively, this makes it quicker to access the AR experience.
New recording and playback – many AR experiences happen in real-time. This new feature allows you to store videos of places or events and then play them whenever you want. You can picture how a piece of furniture might look in your home while at the office or visualise new products in different spaces without having to be there, a step toward making AR more convenient and useful.
Why does all this matter?
When AR experiences become more immersive, this creates new and exciting ways to connect with products and people. If the whole technical experience has been improved, not only will the user learn more, but they will be less likely to get distracted from the experience. In a virtual or hybrid event for example, this is even more vital when we think about engaging our audience and keeping their attention.
You could hold up your device to a photo of someone and see their life story play out, or use an AR experience to explain to delegates how a product is put together. AR can be both an inclusive and personal experience. When experiences are seamless, personal and yet shared with others at an event, we can really put ourselves in the shoes of that person or organisation. Creating empathy through AR can bring people together in unimagined ways, help us delve deeper into the product we are learning about and build new connections.