Augmented Reality is becoming a reality

Dear readers,

We've talked about benefits and risks, challenges and the business value of AR. 

Today, for this last and special edition of this blog, we would like to show you a recent and exciting development in the AR world - and explain to you what exactly it means for your business.

We've painted a future that is dominated by Augmented Reality - it's always on, everywhere, and everyone's in it. But today's AR applications, such as AR mobile apps (and even Google Glass), are limited; they still do not provide you with the level of interactivity promised by the AR gurus - look, but don't touch.

Look, but do not touch

This constitutes an immense challenge for AR - displays are becoming smaller and more comfortable to use (through devices such as Google Glass or, in the future, AR enabled contact lens). However, in order to interact with this augmented world, users have to resort to unnatural body motions (Saturday Night Live demonstrated this recently) or unreliable, socially awkward voice commands. As long as consumers face this barrier, AR will suffer from low adoption rates.

Enter meta: the new Augmented Reality interface.

Meta is the first consumer-level solution which aims to bridge this gap - bringing true interaction to the AR world. Instead of point-and-click or voice interfaces, naturally use your hands to manipulate the surrounding augmented reality. How is it done? Through a combination of a stereoscopic camera, smart software and see-through displays.

What meta offers is a cheap device which gives users the ability to experience true AR experiences, with hand-gesture driven interfaces. But more importantly - and this is where your business comes in - meta is offering a developer kit which allows you to develop your own exciting AR applications.
With an open SDK (Software Developer Kit), meta allows businesses to build their own software which uses meta's platform - easily using the hardware in their applications. The meta SDK does all the heavy lifting - transforming camera input into a depth map (a 3D representation of reality), identifying and processing hand gestures, and displaying pictures on screen. All businesses have to do is code their application using meta's inputs in order to provide consumers with a unique, customized experience.

Virtual design - by using your hands!

For instance, a furniture company can buy the Development Kit and easily construct an application which allows you to use your hands to place a virtual sofa or closet in your apartment - like you would do in real life. Using meta's glasses and SDK, consumers will get to virtually furnish their house, in a convenient and natural way, without ever leaving their house.

Meta offers us a glimpse to the future - in which AR is naturally everywhere. It's exciting news, which further proves what we've tried to convey in this blog:

AR is coming. 

You, and your business, should be prepared.

We hope you've enjoyed our blog - we've certainly enjoyed writing it, and having you as our readers.

The Augmentacious Team
Jann, Regina, In, Lior, Joonhong and Marianna