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Tag: Retail

  • AR and VR Can Provide New Revenue Streams in 2023

    AR and VR Can Provide New Revenue Streams in 2023

    CES 2023 came to a close, and what a show it was. After years of remote presentations, we finally converged in Las Vegas; media companies, major manufacturers, agencies, services, developers, and the press came together again with renewed energy to resume full speed ahead “post-pandemic” business. Networking was in the air, and slowly but surely, we all got caught up and started looking into 2023-24 and the exciting opportunities ahead.

    After years of experimentation and hype, we can finally say that augmented reality and virtual worlds are now viable and within reach of consumers. The continued growth of 5G, the availability of edge computing, and the rapid adoption of W3 technologies have set the stage to incorporate digital media in all forms into the actual world, including persistence, and thanks to NFTs, we can make a digital “item” unique.

    CES 2023 Session AR and VR

    It was great to hear Eric Shamlin (Media Monks) and Emily Wengert (Huge) talk about the creative process and their approach to XR and the Metaverse. Rahul Sabnis shares news about iHeart Media events for 2023, which will include augmented reality offerings and more. We all look forward to these events with great anticipation. Silke Meixner (ZS Associates) shared key insights to help develop a sound digital transformation strategy than can facilitate and leverage W3 technologies moving forward. Ashley Crowder (Vntana) is working on solving 3D challenges, which will positively impact the business adoption of AR/VR and all virtual spaces, Metaverse, and games. Jenna Seiden (Niantic) shared exciting news for developers worldwide by announcing new tools and features to deploy AR experiences via browser. From us at SparxWorks, the news is that our platform now supports browser-based augmented reality and the use of QR codes in addition to our app-based capabilities. Our platform allows you to combine images, video, 360-degree images, 3D, audio, and text with AR image recognition, plane recognition, and more.

    At SparxWorks, we specialize in helping businesses reach and connect with their consumers at their point of need. Our customer-centric approach allows us to cultivate and extend your market share through the web, mobile, augmented reality, and, eventually, a persistent metaverse. To learn more come visit our website.

  • What Will Happen with Print Media in the Age of the Metaverse?

    What Will Happen with Print Media in the Age of the Metaverse?

    “Print media is dead. No one wants to read anymore.”   These are things we often hear on the news.  These opinions, or trends, are heavily influenced by current video consumption habits and consumers’ well-documented resistance to reading long pieces. But these statements are just not true. Indeed no one wants to read a manual. However, we all like to read a good novel, a book about something we are interested in, or perhaps an excellent social post. Books are not going away; they are just transforming.

    Augmented reality (AR) will become an essential transformation tool for print media. Through AR, already existing books, newspapers, signs, etc., can all be enhanced, bringing new life and renewed interest from consumers.

    Imagery from printed materials can be made interactive through Image recognition. With this technology, any image in a book could become alive.  You might see a photo of George Washington in a book, and he will start talking to you, or perhaps another image will trigger an interactive map of a famous battle. Billboards, signs, and logos will all also become interactive. All the analytics we get from using the web and mobile apps can now also be obtained from print media and objects, thanks to AR.

    AR will elevate the level of engagement and connection between the product or brand and the end user. Books, articles, and other printed materials will no longer be your “Father’s” read but rather a new interactive and dynamic way to experience a story or learn about something.

    Schoolchildren Use Digital Tablet Computers and Smartphones with Augmented Reality Software

    Books and printed materials can have digital companion applications. These applications could make portions or contents in a book interactive, can trigger digital experiences, and can provide further support for the story or concept the reader is exploring. Imagine opening a history book and reading about the declaration of independence, and suddenly, you are there, fully immersed in 3D, witnessing the signing of our constitution! Volumetric, like the real thing!

    If you want to see a simple example, you can explore our ABC Animals Alphabet in Motion title. This is a simple ABC book that engages early readers with the help of mom and dad to develop an early love for reading the magical experiences reading can bring.  Each page has a special surprise; making the first time your child sees the alphabet truly memorable. You can find the book on Amazon Tap or click to view the book

    Digital companion art, interactive content, or 3D objects combined with an NFT can create additional value for products (the Metaverse will create many new distribution channels). Or additional sales (digital), collectibles, and more.

    We all love a good story and inspiring, unforgettable characters We also love to read about things that interest us in detail. Books will need to evolve, like all media. We at SparxWorks have been working with print media, education, training, and family entertainment for the past two decades, with almost ten years of experience with AR. We share the love of reading and learning and have created an amazing ecosystem to support print media’s transition into the Metaverse. If you want to learn more about available tools and options for print media, contact us by tapping or clicking here.

  • Is Augmented Reality the Actual Path to Virtual Reality?

    Is Augmented Reality the Actual Path to Virtual Reality?

    Is AR the road to real VR? If you have asked yourself the same question, please comment or share your thoughts with this post. I am working on two (very different) immersive projects and would love to hear what other people are working on, AR or VR, think about this. Hear me out and let me share briefly what I am doing and see what you think

    I am working on an AR project, a “life-size-location event,” a “Haunted House.” It is a real size environment; it will need to be experienced outdoors, on a field, gym, or some other area where you can fit a house J (baseball, football fields are great choices).

     

    As we’ve worked on the project, the journey has been incredible. I have often stopped and asked our team, “Wait, are we still doing augmented reality? Or are we now doing VR?” It was both a moment of reflection and realization. We can deliver a closer experience to the “Holodeck from Star Trek” in terms of the user experience with AR—you can walk, interact with objects, digital elements, and characters, etc.

     

    Don’t get me wrong. I love the Oculus VR products and their super talented developers; they make fantastic stuff, too. But in terms of the overall experience, I would suggest that AR is indeed the true path to VR. With 5G fast growth and multi-access edge computing, we’ll be able to deliver a unique realistic experience of the same quality as a PlayStation or Xbox. Furthermore, you will no longer be bound to a chair or small room, or computer for that matter.

     

    I, of course, started to think about the possibilities for education, retail, architecture, hospitality, wellness, and entertainment, to name a few natural fits for AR. For example, take a walk through the city of Troy, or observe the battle of Waterloo, Conduct a science experiment, and so much more. Combined with props, you can have a completely interactive experience that includes touch in addition to an audio-visual experience. We have been able to also experiment with a store, apartment, and even a stadium.

     

    Our second project I can tell you more about. It is a small micro-game. I am releasing it next week (it is free). This is a very light shooter game. As I played the game, I became as immersed in it as when I played simple games on a console-based or mobile device, except that I was an active participant this time. I also played with others (I was at a park), which made it fun and social, something I think we all need. Since we were outside, we were also safe.

     

    Please take a minute to share your experiences if you are working on similar initiatives; I’d love to hear from you.

    If you would like to know more about our augmented reality services, please contact us through our website www.sparxworks.com. Also, we are going to be demonstrating various immersion concepts this November 15 at www.ARExperience.us. This experiential conference will bring together the top brands and agencies with the hottest companies and services in AR in a collaborative way to foster the growth of our AR community.

    We look forward to seeing you there at the Faena Hotel in Miami beach.

  • Augmented Reality: how do I get started? Five easy steps.

    Augmented Reality: how do I get started? Five easy steps.

    OK, I want to use AR. How do I get started? Five easy steps.

     

    Do you work in marketing? Or advertisement, branding or sales? Would you like to take advantage of the many benefits AR brings but are new to or inexperienced with immersive technologies? I think I can offer some help.

    Selecting the right cost-effective AR solution for your company can be a mind-boggling task. However, if you ask the right questions you’ll find that AR is surprisingly affordable.  A simple AR strategy may add less than $10K to your budget.

     

    1. Identify and set up your goal
      • What do you want to do with AR? Extend your brand? Provide support for your products and services?
      • What tools do you already have? Website? Mobile application(s)? How or where do you plan to add AR?
    2. Set up a budget
      • If you are exploring if AR is suitable for you, running a pilot project is a good idea. Decide on the sum you want to invest.
      • Set up a period of time for the pilot or initiative. This will help you measure success with analytics.
    3. Keep in mind the audience you are trying to reach
      • This is important in selecting a distribution channel (for example, if you are trying to reach users over 35, Snapchat would not be a good choice, on the other hand, if your audience is under 35 it is a great choice.)
    4. Understand the logistics and timing
      • Be clear on the kind of AR you are interested in implementing.
      • Understand the main differences between AR technologies.
      • Make sure you set up a realistic timeline.
    5. Use analytics, make sure you can measure results
      • Make sure you collect and analyze data.
      • What you learn will be directly linked to the goals you set up for the project.
      • Make sure the data sampling you are using covers enough ground to make an objective assessment.

     

    If you don’t have a team well versed in immersive technologies, the best approach is to start with a platform or tools of well-established AR platforms. While AR technologies and platforms are growing fast, here is a list of some of the top options you may want to consider

     

     

    If you want to learn more about our versatile AR platform, please contact me or visit our website www.sparxworks.com or see us on November 15 at www.ARExperience.us. This experiential conference will bring together the top brands and agencies with the hottest companies and services in AR in a collaborative way to foster the growth of our AR community. We look forward to seeing you there at the Faena Hotel in Miami beach.

  • AR publishing in 3 easy steps under 5 minutes!

    AR publishing in 3 easy steps under 5 minutes!

    As I’ve explained in the past, devising an AR strategy for your business is a complex process with many variables, but the good news is that with SparkWorks’ AR technology, publishing AR content is very simple!  What if you could spend your time designing, asking the right questions, leveraging AR across print media, objects, mobile applications, and your eCommerce/website without worrying about programming? At SparxWorks, we are 100% focused on making the process of publishing AR content simple, safe, fun, and measurable.

    I am going to show you how you can use image recognition to enhance print media in minutes. Here is an example of how quickly you can add a brand new experience with our platform, three easy steps.

     

    Step 1

     

    • Name your target
    • Upload the image to be recognized (the target)

     

    target setup 1

    With a simple drag and drop interface, you can upload the image you want to use. For example, it could be the cover of a magazine, a photo, drawing or painting in a textbook, or perhaps a travel brochure.

     

    Step 2

     

    • Upload a video or animation (optimal file size etc. Is explained on the screen)

     

    target setup 2

    Add a video with our simple drag and drop interface.

     

    Step 3

     

    This is a crucial step as measuring the success of your projects and initiatives is critical.

    • Drag and drop an image (optional)
    • Enter an HTML link for the image (optional)
    • Upload a button (optional) or let the image be the button

     

    target setup 3

     

    Our imaged-based call to action allows us to present the user with additional information, product pages, polls, surveys, interactive content, deep-links, anything you can include in an image with a simple HTML link.

     

    After you complete the three easy steps, you tap or click on save and continue; this will take you to our confirmation page. Finally, if everything is OK, you can press publish.

    In our system, you can make changes at any time. And you can control expenses by limiting the number of recognitions and views you want to allow in a given period of time. As long as your project is live, you can make any changes you want. But be careful—your changes take effect in 30 seconds to five minutes. Your content is live; and no programming knowledge is required!

     

    Technologies we have seamlessly incorporated into our platform include:

     

    Other tools we believe are viable and well supported include:

     

    AR is affordable, immersive, and becoming a proven technology; it is essential to evaluate whether it  should be part of your business strategy.

    Work collaboratively (you can add your team to the platform at no additional cost), schedule content release ahead of time, make adjustments to your projects anytime.

    Release target-based, target-less, object tracking, scene tracking, self-facing, and real world-facing augmented reality experiences in minutes (not including creating creative content).

     

    In my next post, I plan to show you easy it is to publish browser-based augmented reality content in three easy steps at SparxWorks. Visit us at www.sparxworks.com to learn more about our AR business solutions. You can also come to see us in action this coming November 15 at www.ARExperience.us. This experiential conference will bring together the top brands and agencies with the hottest companies and services in AR in a collaborative way to foster the growth of our AR community.

    We look forward to seeing you there at the Faena Hotel in Miami beach.

  • Augmented Reality: Why do you need an AR strategy?

    Augmented Reality: Why do you need an AR strategy?

    Undoubtedly many businesses are asking themselves this very question, is AR a key part of our strategy moving forward? This, of course, is a very sensible question to ask. The simple answer is that you do need an AR strategy.   AR is, in a way, like the mobile revolution. It allows us to connect the world (physical) with the digital world in a way that VR could only dream of.

    When planning your strategy, there are a few suggestions I think you will find helpful.

     

    1. Identify what the goal is. For example:

      • Discover – Brand awareness, reach (views/impressions)

      • Experience – Engagement, does the user trigger the experience?

      • Action item – This would be an outcome. Did the user made a purchase, or take the action you were suggesting? (sign up, vote, survey, etc.)

    2. Tracking is a natural thing to do with all AR options. You will need to track a combination of metrics to measure success at various points in your AR strategy plan.

    3. Keep in mind quantitative metrics and qualitative metrics that help you measure things like how your brand is perceived, overall experience, etc. Surely your creative team will have plenty to contribute here.

    4. Analyze the overall impact of AR on your media plan.

     

    Remember, AR is not a strategy in and of itself, but a way to extend your addressable market and make sure your products and services reach the target customer.  AR leverages mobile devices (and HMDs) and connects all media to provide a consistent user experience.

    • AR connects all your print media, making their performance measurable.

    • AR connects objects to your digital strategy making it possible to track usage and overall user experience.

    • AR extends your commerce efforts not by replacing the store experience but rather by complementing it. AR allows users to see items in their own space; if a consumer is shopping for a couch, the consumer can see if it fits the desired area. The consumer may still want to go to the store and try it, but AR facilitates that process by resolving, in this case, a practical issue which is size.

    • AR increases engagement and immersion without taking you out of the real world.

    • AR can provide target search.

     

    In sum, AR can connect your store, eCommerce, website, products, and your consumer behavior data and areas of interest, allowing businesses to improve user experience, product assortment, and positioning and information about products and services.

    If you want to learn more about how AR can help your business, please contact me or visit our website www.sparxworks.com or come see us on November 15 at www.ARExperience.us. This experiential conference will bring together the top brands and agencies with the hottest companies and services in AR in a collaborative way to foster the growth of our AR community. We look forward to seeing you there at the Faena Hotel in Miami beach.

  • Augmented Reality – Can Ar Have A Meaningful Impact On Retail?

    Augmented Reality – Can Ar Have A Meaningful Impact On Retail?

    ar on retail play

    Can AR have a Meaningful Impact on Retail?

    As many of you know, I run a company called SparxWorks Inc, which is focused on AR solutions for businesses.  One of my responsibilities at SparxWorks is to lead our Research and Innovation group. We explore use cases in many markets identifying goals, pain points, and areas of need to see how we can help. Today I’d like to focus on the retail market because it is one of the most pandemic-impacted sectors of the economy. And now, even as we are emerging (work in progress) from this unprecedented worldwide disruption, retailers continue to face a wide range of challenges.

    Challenges for Retail

    • Supply chain interruptions/slow down/limits inventory

    • Conflicting information and directives have confused consumers, making a total return to in-store shopping still a work in progress

    • Safety measures have also altered the in-store experience (for example, consumers can’t try out clothes in many stores)

    • Intense web and mobile app competition make it complex and expensive to reach consumers

    • Print media can’t collect data needed to improve usability and engage with the consumer.

    • Concern about a new pandemic wave is genuine and needs to be considered in any sales strategy

    AR Meets the Challenge

    To illustrate how AR can meet these challenges I decided to put our tech to the test.  My goal was to provide a solution that could be done quickly with simple assets. I used my iPhone, and a simple 3D model (clips included in the video), no editing—just the real thing.

    As you’ll see in the demo, the result is fantastic. You can walk around the store, obtain information about products, etc.  Had I gone a bit further with the demo, products could be bought via e-commerce, and all this would happen while the app collected data, mailing information, etc.

    In fact, our white label SparxWorks App can:

    • be integrated with an inventory system providing availability of items at the correct locations,

    • bring the store to the consumer’s home or any other location. For example, see the clips walking through the apartment in the park. We can implement an interactive store like that right now with links to e-commerce,

    • allow users to view items at home and place them where they want to use them.

    • Enable print media; rich media provides a higher probability of engagement and equal or of more importance, provide analytics,

    • provide precise information at the point of sales.

    Summary

    AR isn’t a solution in and of itself. AR needs to be part of a company’s strategy—an important part.  It can be combined with all other media to generate excitement and immersion. It can enliven all a retailer’s existing assets, images, ads, packaging, etc., with exciting, rich media and interactive options. In addition, retailers can create and add brand new experiences in 3D, video, or other rich media.

    AR allows retailers to be location agnostic and deliver an in-store experience remotely when needed.  Evidence-based AR enables retailers to track how users interact with products. Learning about user interactions helps retailers to provide a better shopping experience, learn about assortment preferences, product placement, and more. AR effectively helps retail create an omnichannel for distribution in the real world and the growing new metaverse.

    Can AR have a meaningful impact on retail?  Yes, without a doubt!

    Want to learn more? Visit us at www.sparxworks.com. You can also see our technology at work at www.ARExperience.us this coming November

    Note: All videos were shot with an iPhone. There was no post-production.